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188 PULMONARY FERRUGINOUS RORIES--GROSS ET AL of the ferruginous bodies. On the other hand, the central filament of the ferruginous bodies isolated from hamster lungs injected with brake-drum dust yielded electron dif fraction patterns characteristic of chryso lite. Comment Although we have failed to identify the fibers tliat caused the population of ferrugi nous bodies in people not occupationally cx)>oscd to asbestos, we have decisively ex cluded chrysotile. This exclusion is highly significant in view of the fact that if asbes tos dust were the contaminant in urban air rostensible for the formation of these bodies, chrysotile would be the most promi nent constituent of the cores and should be identifiable in some of tlie ferruginous bodies recovered from the. lungs of these j>eoplc, particularly since we have demon strated that the cores of ferruginous bodies resulting from intratracheal injections of brake-drum dust were cotnjioscd of chryrotile. From the fact tliat the central fibers of the ferruginous bodies examined demon strate an electron diffraction pattern, it must be concluded that the fiber 6 crystal line, but identification must await further electron diffraction information and possi bly electron microprobc measurements. Its crystalline diffraction pattern effectively rules out fibrous glass, glass wool, and other vitreous materials in this sample which have been shown experimentally to be capa ble of producing ferruginous bodies.* A recent analysis, utilizing an electron microscope, of the central fiber of asbestos bodies removed from lung6 of people who had worked in a Flushing (Netherlands) shipyard, led to the conclusion that these cores were composed of amphibole asbestos.* This might have been expected since crocidolite and amosite have long been the predominant types of asbestos used in the shipbuilding industry. However, the relevance, if any, of this finding to the ferruginous bodies found in the lungs of urban dwellers, not occupationally exjiosed to asbestos, would appear to be doubtful. Tbis investigation was supported in part by J*ublic Health Service research grant PH86-6G-35C, National Center lor Urban and Industrial Health, and grant J-'K 06580 from the National Institute of Health. Michael I>. Utidjian. Ml). I>epartmcnt of Epide miology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, isolated the ferruginous bodies and transferred them to electron microecoj*c grids. References 3. Utidjian, Gross, l\; and deTreville, RT.I'.: Ferruginous Bodies in Human lAings: Prev alence at Random Autopsies, Arch Environ Health 37:327-333 (Sept) 19G8. 2. Grout. I*., et al: Pulmonary Ferruginous Bodies: 1 tevclopment in Kesjonac to Filamentous Dusts and a Method of Isolation and Concentration. Arch Path 85:539-546 (May) 19G8. 3. Crelley, Ij., et al: Source and Identification of Kespirablc Fibers, A/HA J 29:129-136 (May-April) J9G8. 4. Thomson, J.G.. et al: Asbestos as Modem Urban Haiards, S Air Med J 37:77-81. 39G3. 6. Itoeato, 1>.V.: Asbestos: its industrial Applioo- tions, New York: Reinhold J*ublishing Corp., 1959, p4. C. Rioc, R.V.; Maser, M.; and Klug, H.P.: Chrysolile Morphology. Amer Min 45:680-088, 39GO. 7. 7.unsman, J., and Brindley, G.W.: Klectron Diffraction Studies of Serpentine Minerals, Amer Min 42:133-353. 3957. 8. Gaeiialer, E.A., and Addington, W.W.: Current Concepts: Asbcatoe or Ferruginous Bodies. New Eng J Med 287:488^92 (Feb 27) 19C9. 9. Stumphius, J., and Mayer, P.B.: Asbestos Bodies and Mesothelioma, Ann Occup Hyg 11:283- 293 (Oct) 19C8. Arch Environ Health--Vol J9, Aug 1969 Printed end Published tn the Un/ted Stales at America 8005 1447 PRODUCED BY FORD