“Asbestos” Bodies: Their Nonspecificity

Abstract

So-called “asbestos” bodies were produced in the lungs of hamsters injected intratracheally with respirable filamentous particles composed of aluminum silicate. The production of “asbestos” bodies by aluminum silicate challenges the concept that “asbestos” bodies are a pulmonary response specific to inhaled asbestos fibers. Instead of the term “asbestos” body, the designation of ferruginous body is suggested for the iron-containing structure that forms in response to the inhalation of filamentous dust of unknown composition, since the term “asbestos” body may be misleading and inappropriate.