ABSTRACT
A wide variety of inorganic particulates have been identified in human lungs. Some of these particulates, when present in relatively large amounts, often as a result of particular occupational or environmental exposures, are associated with the production of specific diseases known as pneumoconioses. The rate of accumulation of particulates within the lung is a complex function of a number of factors, including the concentration of particles in the ambient air and the rate of clearance of particles deposited in the lung. An impressive array of analytical techniques has been applied to the analysis of inorganic particulates in lung tissue. Microscopic techniques employing visible light to study inorganic particulates include standard biological microscopy, phase contrast microscopy, polarized light microscopy, and dispersion staining. Inorganic particles may be studied with either scanning or transmission electron microscopy. For many inorganic particulates, elemental composition is not sufficient for complete, accurate mineralogical characterization.
