US EPA

3080833 

Journal Article 

Asbestos body burden in decomposed human lungs 

Mollo, F; Cravello, M; Andreozzi, A; Burlo, P; Bo, P; Attanasio, A; De Giuli, P 

2000 

Yes 

American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
ISSN: 0195-7910
EISSN: 1533-404X 

LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS 

PHILADELPHIA 

21 

2 

148-150 

English 

10871130 

WOS:000087425400011 

The authors discuss the influence of postmortem tissue decomposition on the lung asbestos body (AB) burden, with the aim of evaluating the reliability of data obtained from autopsies performed for medicolegal purposes several months after deaths in possible connection with asbestos-related pathology. Eight autopsy cases were selected, each one with occupational exposure considered very probable on the basis of the history or pathologic findings. In each case the AB concentrations were assessed soon after death in one lung and after periods of 1 to 18 months in the others, which had been stored in sealed containers without fixation. AB concentrations consistently decreased with time in rotten lungs. The counts in some cases became negative a few months after death, even in cases with very high AB counts at first examination. It may be reasonably inferred that, in putrefied lungs from corpses exhumed after months of internment, the counts in digested tissues and the screening of histologic sections for AB may give false-negative results. 

asbestos bodies; autopsy; lung putrefaction; asbestosis