Determination of asbestos bodies in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids in Thailand

Objective: Asbestos bodies (AB), ferroprotein-coated asbestos fiber, may be present in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of asbestos exposed persons. The present study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence and number of asbestos bodies in the BALF of tenable asbestos exposed workers compare to general population in Thailand. Material and Method: Thirty workers of cement pipe and roof tile factories using chrysotile asbestos and 30 unexposed patients that underwent diagnostic bronchoscopy were included in this study. Determination of asbestos bodies was made by membrane filtration method as described in earlier reports. Results: The findings were positive in six workers and in one control subject (0.1-3.6 vs. 0.2 AB/ml of BALF, p = 0.449). Conclusion: AB was identified in workers more often than in pulmonary disease patient. Two of workers had more than 1 AB/ml of BALF.