Elemental analysis of histological specimens: a method to unmask nano asbestos fibers

There is recent mounting evidence that nanoparticles may have enhancedtoxicological potential in comparison to the same material in the bulk form. The aim of this study was to develop a new method for unmask asbestos nanofibers fromFormalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded tissue. There is an increasing amount ofevidence that nanoparticles may enhance toxicological potential in comparison to the same material in the bulk form. The aim of this study was to develop a newmethod to unmask asbestos nanofibers from Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE)tissue. For the first time, in this study we applied Energy Dispersive X-ray(EDX) microanalysis through transmission electron microscopy to demonstrate thepresence of asbestos nanofibers in histological specimens of patients withpossible occupational exposure to asbestos. The diagnostic protocol was appliedto 10 randomly selected lung cancer patients with no history of previous asbestosexposure. We detected asbestos nanofibers in close contact with lung cancer cellsin two lung cancer patients with previous possible occupational exposure toasbestos. We were also able to identify the specific asbestos iso-type, which in one of the cases was the same rare variety used in the workplace of the affected patient. By contrast, asbestos nanofibers were not detected in lung cancerpatients with no history of occupational asbestos exposure. The proposedtechnique can represent a potential useful tool for linking the disease toprevious workplace exposure in uncertain cases. Furthermore, Formalin-FixedParaffin-Embedded (FFPE) tissues stored in the pathology departments might bere-evaluated for possible etiological attribution to asbestos in the case ofplausible exposure. Since diseases acquired through occupational exposure toasbestos are generally covered by workers' insurance in most countries, theapplication of the protocol used in this study may have also relevant social and economic implications.