PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Hélène Attali AU - Karine Beugnon AU - Perrrine Boudet AU - Patrick Brochard AU - Pascal Andujar AU - Laurent Martinon AU - Sophie Lanone AU - Jean-Claude Pairon TI - Lung retention of nonfibrous mineral particles in subjects free of occupational exposure AID - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2015.PA4088 DP - 2015 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - PA4088 VI - 46 IP - suppl 59 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA4088.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA4088.full SO - Eur Respir J2015 Sep 01; 46 AB - Background: Determination of background levels of lung retention of nonfibrous mineral particles (NFMP) in control populations is a key issue for a correct use of mineralogical analysis of lung samples as a tool for the identification of the occupational or environmental origin of some pulmonary disorders.Aims: The objective of the study was to characterize the level of retention of NFMP in the lung in 2 series of subjects free of occupational exposure to such particles and undergoing lung surgery, recruited over a 20 years period, to study the evolution of background levels.Methods: Mineralogical analysis of lung tissue for quantification of NFMP was performed in these 2 series : 35 subjects recruited in 1994-1999 (G1: 17 females, 18 males, mean age: 58.7 years), and 36 subjects in 2009-2014 (G2: 19 females, 17 males, mean age: 63.2 years). Analytical transmission and scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray device was used to quantify and characterize NFMP greater than 0.1 μm. Non parametric tests were used to compare results of the quantification in the two series.Results: Median concentration of all NFMP was 21.2 x 107 particles/gram of dry lung (p/g) and 43.5 x 107 p/g in G1 and G2, respectively (p=0.02). The most significant change when comparing G1 and G2 was the increase in the level of titanium particles (median: 5 x 107 p/g and 8.8 x 107 p/g in G1 and G2, respectively; p= 0.005).Conclusions: The increase between 1994-1999 and 2009-2014 concerning the level of retention of titanium particles in the lung of subjects free of specific occupational exposure warrants further investigation to identify possible new environmental or household sources.