Asbestos fibers in normal and cancerous human kidneys.

Exposure of general population of ubiquitously present asbestos has led investigators to monitor its health effects. This pilot study was undertaken to see if there was an association between kidney cancer and fiber concentration in the kidney. Results of transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis for asbestos fibers in normal and cancerous human kidney tissues collected from three Chicago hospitals are presented. Chrysotile fibers were recovered from autopsy or surgery tissues of normal and cancerous kidneys. The study did not indicate a definite association between carcinoma and fiber load of kidney of humans exposed to nonoccupational asbestos.