ANALYSIS OF CORES OF FERRUGINOUS (ASBESTOS) BODIES FROM GENERAL POPULATION .1. PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT LUNG-CANCER

Google Scholar
  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 37  (3) , 280-286
Abstract
Ferruginous (asbestos) bodies may be found in the lungs of almost everyone in the population, but little information is available as to whether such bodies are nucleated on asbestos or some other fibrous dust. In this study morphologically typical ferruginous bodies were isolated from the lungs of 23 autopsy and surgical patients, none of whom had primary asbestos exposure. Eleven patients had carcinoma of the lung. To determine the nature of the core, 328 bodies were examined by electron diffraction. Of these, 264 (80%) showed the diffraction patterns of amphibole asbestos, whereas 6 showed the pattern of chrysotile asbestos. No amorphous cores or crystalline nonasbestos cores were identified. Fifty-eight (18%) bodies could not be diffracted because of the thickness of the Fe-protein coat. No differences were seen between patients with and without lung cancer. Typical ferruginous bodies have asbestos cores, which are usually amphibole type. The findings suggest widespread exposure to asbestos dust. Occupational histories appeared to indicate the source of exposure in some but not all patients.