ISSN:
0741-0581
Keywords:
Lung mineral dust
;
scanning electron microscopy
;
x-ray energy dispersive spectrometry
;
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Natural Sciences in General
Notes:
Following Na-hypochlorite digestion of lung tissue, mineral particles extracted in the chloroform layer were deposited directly on a pre-smoothed carbon planchet for combined scanning electron microscopy and X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM and XEDS). Total mineral particle counts were obtained, and detailed physical characteristics of the fibrous particles were documented at 600, 1,500, 4,500 and 9,000 x in three lungs without, and one lung with, histories of occupational exposure. This preparation method was simple, collected more than 99% of identifiable mineral particles in the chloroform layer, gave excellent object to background contrast without heavy metal coatings, and was suitable for XEDS. Comparable fibrous particles from the chloroform layer could also be studied by selected-area electron diffraction to complement the results of XEDS. By this method, we found particles or fibers larger than 0.1 μm were readily counted and measured at 4,500 x. At 600 x, ferruginous bodies were found to be more than twice in number than when sought for by light microscopy. It was determined that 4,500 x is the most efficient magnification to examine and diagnose this type of specimen. The present study illustrates the importance of determining the most efficient magnification to be utilized in particle counts.
Additional Material:
5 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jemt.1060020306
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