Elsevier

Environmental Research

Volume 12, Issue 3, December 1976, Pages 281-298
Environmental Research

An examination of the fibrous mineral content of asbestos lung tissue from the Canadian chrysotile mining industry

https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9351(76)90038-4Get rights and content

Abstract

An examination of postmortem lung tissue from 20 cases of diagnosed asbestosis from the Canadian chrysotile mining industry has shown that fibrous minerals other than chrysotile were present in many of the cases. Tremolite fiber was found in 11 of the cases, often in large amounts, and crocidolite and amosite fibers were found in 2 of the cases. Fibers corresponding to talc and anthophyllite were found in 3 cases. In 4 of the cases, fibers were not detected. Amphibole and other fibers were found to be present in larger numbers than chrysotile in 7 of the cases. No attempt has been made to relate the results to occupation and location where the exposures may have occurred. It is possible, however, that fibrous minerals other than chrysotile are active in the incidence of asbestosis in the Canadian chrysotile mining industry.

References (10)

  • A.G. Heppleston

    Correlation between the tissue response and asbestos fibre content

    Environ. Health Perspectives

    (1974)
  • A.M. Langer et al.

    Chrysotile asbestos in the lungs of persons in New York City

    Arch. Environ. Health

    (1971)
  • L. Le Bouffont

    Investigation and analysis of asbestos fibers and accompanying minerals in biological materials

    Environ. Health Perspectives

    (1974)
  • A.M. Langer et al.

    Electron microscopical investigation of asbestos fibers

    Environ. Health Perspectives

    (1974)
  • A.M. Langer et al.

    Identification of single asbestos fibers in tissue

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (85)

  • Talc, body powder, and ovarian cancer: A summary of the epidemiologic evidence

    2021, Gynecologic Oncology
    Citation Excerpt :

    The number of biologic and animal studies evaluating the carcinogenic potential of talc is limited. In autopsy studies, talc particles have been found in the lungs of occupationally exposed individuals [10]. Pathology studies have shown talc particles in various cancer tissues including stomach tumors and gynecological tumors, suggesting that talc can reach various parts of the body through inhalation, deposition, and even retrograde movement in the female genital tract [1].

  • The ticking time-bomb of asbestos: Its insidious role in the development of malignant mesothelioma

    2012, Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
    Citation Excerpt :

    This allowed the measurement of different fibre types within the lungs of exposed workers in the chrysotile industry. The surprisingly high proportion of amphibole fibres found in the lungs of chrysotile industry workers, suggested that amphibole contamination was a real phenomenon whilst chrysotile achieved high levels of clearance [80,84]. The usefulness of lung fibre analyses however was again called into question in a study comparing fibre measurements between lung parenchyma and (parietal) pleura.

  • Asbestos and other mineral and vitreous fibers

    2020, Environmental Toxicants: Human Exposures and Their Health Effects
View all citing articles on Scopus
View full text