Observation of the same asbestos body by both phase contrast microscope and analytical transmission electron microscope

• Published in: Industrial health Vol. 61; no. 2; pp. 134 - 139
• Main Authors: Iijima, Sachiko, Takahashi, Shigeo, Kohyama, Norihiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan 01.04.2023; National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan (JNIOSH)
• Subjects: Asbestos; Care and treatment; Diagnosis; Electron microscopes; Health aspects; Humans; Low temperature; Lung; Lung cancer; Mathematical analysis; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Occupational health and safety; Original; Phase contrast; Transmission electron microscopes; Transmission electron microscopy; Japan; Asbestos; Asbestos lung cancer (ALC); The worker's accident compensation system; Analytical transmission electron microscope (ATEM); Risk of asbestos exposure; Phase contrast optical microscope (PCM); The asbestos-related health damage relief system; Asbestos body (AB)
• ISSN: 0019-8366; 1880-8026
• DOI: 10.2486/indhealth.2021-0269

The amount of asbestos body (AB) in the human lungs is used as an index to assess asbestos lung cancer (ALC). This study reports a new method to observe the same AB previously observed by analytical transmission electron microscope (ATEM) by phase contrast microscope (PCM) or the contrary order. Four kinds of specimens were prepared from the lung tissue of an asbestos related worker: ordinary PCM specimen (A); PCM specimen (B) of which the cover glass was stripped off and ashed at a low temperature; transmission electron microscope (TEM) specimen (C); and PCM specimen (D) covered a TEM specimen (C) with immersion liquid and cover glass. These specimens were all observed by PCM, and the specimen (C) by analytical TEM (ATEM). The results showed that the TEM specimen (C) is transparent in visible light and we can also see the particles by PCM. The image by PCM of the TEM specimen (C) showed very similar features to that of PCM specimens (A) and (B). Accordingly, we could observe various same particles by both ATEM and PCM. In conclusion, the method observing the same AB by both PCM and ATEM will contribute to standardize the recognition of AB for PCM analysts.