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2065814 
Journal Article 
Deposition Of Bauxite Dust And Pulmonary Fibrosis 
Bellot, SM; Schade van Westrum, J; Wagenvoort, CA; Meijer, A 
1984 
1 
Pathology, Research and Practice
ISSN: 0344-0338
EISSN: 1618-0631 
NIOSH/00150689 
179 
225-229 
A case of mild pulmonary fibrosis associated with bauxite (1318167) dust deposition was reported. The 70 year old subject died suddenly of a heart attack in 1973. From 1936 to 1962 he had been employed in the crushing and transporting of bauxite. He had never complained of respiratory disease. At autopsy the lungs were enlarged and heavy, with dark grey or black areas of 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter on the pleural surfaces and cut surfaces. Morphological studies were made of stained surfaces. With a histochemical mineralization technique, specific reagents were used for the determination of iron, aluminum, titanium, calcium, and magnesium by scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe analysis. Samples of bauxite were examined for aluminum content. Microscopic examination of the lung revealed small areas of interstitial fibrosis. Aluminum and iron were present, along with minor amounts of titanium and calcium. Analysis indicated that the proportion of aluminum was high and that the particles were primarily oxides or hydroxides of aluminum. Comparison with bauxite samples indicated their similarity. The authors conclude that the pulmonary fibrosis may have been a reaction to bauxite dust. Although the condition did not result in clinical symptoms, it is important in the future to be alert to an association between bauxite dust and fibrosis.