Retention of asbestos fibers in the human body.

Abstract

The number, type, and size of retained asbestos fibers were measured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in lung tissues of 10 workers who had died from lung cancer or mesothelioma. The levels were 190-3000 x 1 Q6 fibers/g of dry tissue in three crocidolite sprayers, 6-39 x 1 06 fibers/g of dry tissue in two asbestos product workers and 13-280 x 1 Q6 fibers/g of dry tissue in five insulators exposed to anthophyllite. The duration of past exposure corresponding to the limit of 1 million fibers/g of dry tissue was 1 to 2 days in spraying, 3 to 10 days at the production plant and 1 to 4 months in insulation work. No long-term clearance of amphibole fibers, >5 pm in length, could be demonstrated. In one of the sprayers the fiber concentrations of lung parenchyma, visceral and parietal pleura, hilar lymph nodes, and kidney cortex were orders of magnitude higher than in a series of unselected autopsies. The size and aspect ratio of crocidolite fibers in various tissues were similar, indicating that the translocation processes are rather unselective in respect to fiber dimensions. -Environ Health Perspect 1 02(Suppl. 5): 253-255 (1994)

Asbestos fibers in para‐aortic and mesenteric lymph nodes

“…The lung asbestos concentrations in these patients were similar to those found in our study. Taking account of these data, we can conclude that the lymph system is an important relocation route of asbestos in the extrathoracic organs, as it is intrathoracically, where the asbestos content of the hilar lymph nodes exceeds that found in the lungs by 3-40 times [Dodson et al, 1990;Tossavainen et al, 1994]. The accumulation of inorganic dust and fibers into lymph nodes also explains why the fiber concentration in some lymph nodes exceeded the level found in the respective lung samples in our study or reported by Dodson et al for the adjacent abdominal tissue.…”

Dose‐dependent mesothelioma induction by intraperitoneal administration of multi‐wall carbon nanotubes in p53 heterozygous mice

“…Because the brain, including the choroid plexus, lacks afferent lymphatics,17,18 it is probable that the fibers were distributed systemically via the blood stream. Its importance to human health could be closely linked to the systemic distribution of asbestos reported in humans,26,27 that is, a possibility of increasing systemic diseases such as cancer in various organs28 and autoimmune diseases 29. In vivo studies on the shorter fractions of MWCNT for its systemic toxicity would be essential.…”

Amphiboles: Environmental and Health Concerns

“…However, fi bers of amphibole asbestos have been found at high levels (both in the presence and absence of pathologies) in various other organs and tissues: in the visceral and parietal pleura (Tossavainen et al 1994), in the larynx (Griffi ts and Malony 2003), in ovaric and intratesticular mesothelium (Attanos and Gibbs 2000), in omentum and mesentery (Dodson et al 2000a), in lymph nodes (Dodson et al 2000b), in the urothelium and the bladder wall (Pollice et al 1995), in the intestinal mucosa (Storeygard et al 1977), in the kidneys (Holt 1981), in the placenta (Haque et al 1998), and in the liver and muscles of stillborn (Haque et al 1998). Amphibole asbestos has been found also in biological fl uids: in sputum (e.g., Putzu et al 2006) and in bronchoalveolar lavage fl uid -BALF (e.g., Sartorelli et al 2001).…”