THE DUST CONTENT OF THE LUNGS OF HARD-ROCK MINERS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE, PATHOLOGICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL FINDINGS

A study is being undertaken to investigate the dust content of the lungs of deceased miners of Ontario, Canada. The preliminary findings involving eight sets of lungs were described. Radiology, pathology, dust analysis, size distribution and hydroxyproline determinations were made. Relationships between dust composition and degree of fibrosis, as indicated by hydroxyproline, have been examined. The retained lung dust, when compared with the occupational exposure, appeared to indicate preferential enrichment of silica in the lung. The hydroxyproline content in the lung was found to correlate well with the non-silica inorganic portion of lung dust.