A quantitative study on the distribution of asbestos bodies in extrapulmonary organs.

We made a quantitative study of the distribution of asbestos bodies (ABs) in 13 extrapulmonary organs. We selected 26 male subjects and subdivided them into three groups: Group I had 10(2) to less than 10(3) ABs per gram of wet tissue in their lungs; group II had 10 to 99 ABs; and group III had no ABs. In group I, one or more ABs were identified in at least 6 (53.8%) of the examined extrapulmonary organs. In group II, 23.7% of the examined organs had one or more ABs. In group III, no ABs were found. These results seem to indicate that with modest exposure in the lung, the other organs are often exposed to asbestos with some degree. Moreover, the number of AB in the esophagus was significantly larger than that in 9 of the other 12 organs in group I. The pancreas and the spleen were also supposed to be more preferential sites of exposure. However, the relationship between exposure and its effects in extrapulmonary organs remains to be elucidated.