Asbestos bodies and particulate matter in sputum from former asbestos workers. An ultrastructural study.

From sputum samples collected from nine former asbestos workers, one portion not needed for cytopathologic screening was fixed, embedded and sectioned for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) while a second portion was digested and collected on a Nuclepore filter for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Energy-dispersion analysis was used in assessing inorganic matter in both preparations. The ultrastructural relationships between the ferruginous bodies and related macrophages as well as the presence of other particulate matter in the preparations were studied. Our results are the first to confirm the presence of uncoated asbestos fibers, diatomaceous earth and aluminosilicates in sputum. Our data indicate that it would be reasonable to use this analytical technique as an initial test before using invasive procedures in the diagnosis of many pneumoconioses and other lung diseases.