Chrysotile Biopersistence in the Lungs of Persons in the General Population and Exposed Workers Arthur M. Langer and Robert P. Nolan Environmental Sciences Laboratory, Applied Sciences Institute of Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, New York Abstract Lung burden analysis was performed on 126 autopsy cases of persons who died in New York City from 1966 through 1968. Other inorganic particles present included fragments of amphiboles. In contrast to these data, the lung parenchyma of persons occupationally exposed to asbestos commonly showed the presence of other fiber types, especially amosite and crocidolite, at very much higher concentrations and greater fiber length. Comparison of the lung fiber content of occupationally exposed persons with that of the general population showed marked qualitative and quantitative differences.
Fibers are durable, and are retained in a range of concentrations.
Victor Baden, Carl Berkley, E. Cuyler Hammond, Joann Schwartz, and Irving Selikoff. Address correspondence to Arthur M. Langer, Environmental Sciences Laboratory, Applied Sciences Institute of Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY 11210.