The distribution and characteristics of asbestos fibers in the lungs of Finnish anthophyllite mine-workers.

Measurements of the concentrations and dimensions of uncoated and coated fibers in blocks of tissue taken at the periphery and elsewhere from slices of lungs obtained from two anthophyllite-mine workers are reported. A single block from the lung of a third worker was also analyzed. For the subject examined in most detail, the mean peripheral fiber concentration was greatest in the lower lobe. In the other subject there did not appear to be much variation in fiber concentration with distance from the periphery. The count median lengths of uncoated fibers ranged from about 8 to 12 micron and for coated fibers from 40 to 50 micron. It was apparent that dicing tissue samples, before hypochlorite digestion, led to fracture of the longer uncoated and coated fibers. The results are compared with similar measurements made on the lung of an insulation worker and reported previously.