Abstract
Introduction: In this study, asbestos fibers in lung are characterized and quantified for the first time in an exposed and an unexposed Spanish population.
Material and methods: We studied samples from 47 autopsy specimens (25 unexposed subjects from Barcelona with no lung disease, and 22 asbestos-exposed subjects from El Ferrol), and 32 resected surgical specimens from lung cancer patients in Barcelona.
After eliminating organic material, the inorganic residue was analyzed by optic microscopy and electron microscopy. Results are expressed as the number of asbestos fibers or asbestos bodies per gram of dry lung tissue. To identify the type of fibers found, 38 samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray analysis.
Results: 100% of the fibers identified were amphiboles (crocidolite 45%, anthophyllite 22%, tremolite 16%, amosite 15%, and actinolite 3%). Among the total analyzed, 46% of asbestos fibers had a length of >5 μm and diameter of <0.2 μm. A good correlation was found between optic microscopy and electron microscopy (r: 0.77, p<0.0001) in the determination of asbestos fiber and asbestos body counts. There were no significant differences in asbestos fiber or body counts between patients with non-malignant conditions (asbestosis and plaques) and those with malignant disease (lung cancer and mesothelioma).
Conclusions: This study provides the first available data on the type of asbestos content in lung in the Spanish population. The exclusive retention of amphiboles was worthy of note and suggests elimination of chrysotiles following inhalation. Optic and electron microscopy were both reliable methods for pulmonary asbestos determination in our laboratory.
- © 2011 ERS
