As an indicator of occupational, domestic, and environmental exposure, the level and type of asbestos fibers were determined from lung tissue samples of workers and residents who resided in the area of the world's largest asbestos mine at Asbest, Russia.
Electron microscopy was used to analyze and measure the concentration of asbestos fibers in a series of 47 autopsies at the Asbest Town Hospital. Work histories were obtained from pathology reports and employment records.
In 24 chrysotile miners, millers, and product manufacturers, the pulmonary concentrations of retained fibers (over 1 microm in length) were 0. 8-50.6 million f/g for chrysotile, and