Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
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Asbestos inhaled into the lung is recognized as a potential causal agent for the development of diseases in man. The diseases induced by asbestos include lung cancer, fibrosis of the lung (asbestosis), and extrapulmonary tumors including mesothelioma (a tumor of the serosal membrane), as well as fibrosis and other changes in the pleura linings. ⋯ In either of these cases the quality of information is directly dependent on the preparative techniques and instrumentation used in the analysis. The present article will discuss the significance of findings of tissue burden based on both these variables.