Is There Transplacental Transfer of Asbestos? A Study of 40 Stillborn Infants

摘要: An autopsy study was conducted to investigate whether there is transplacental transfer of asbestos in humans. The burden lung, liver, skeletal muscle, and placenta digests 40 stillborn infants determined using a bleach digestion method. fibers detected the tissue were characterized as type asbestos, electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray analysis, selected-area diffraction analysis. Placental 45 full-term, liveborn similarly processed controls. Low levels small, thin, uncoated placentas organs 37.5% (15 40). fiber sizes ranged from 0.05 5.0μm length 0.03 0.3μm width, with mean 1.15μm width 0.069 μm. Maximum numbers found lungs (mean 235,400 fibers/g; n = 10), followed by liver 212,833 6), 164,500 4), muscle (80,000 fib...