PROCEDURE OF MINERAL ANALYSIS OF DUSTS IN THE LUNG BY X-RAY AND INFRARED STUDIES

Abstract

This paper describes X-ray diffraction or infrared absorption methods for qualitative and quantitative determination of mineral dusts in the lungs. The worker's lungs were treated with hydrogen peroxide solution to obtain the dusts free from organic substance. In order to obtain the precise information on the mineral composition from the very small amount of dust, X-ray diffraction analysis was used together with heat and chemical treatment. For the quantitative study of mineral dusts in lung, both X-ray diffraction and infrared analysis were used. Combined use of these two methods was proved to be very effective as the shortcomings of each method may be compensated each other. The procedure for the determination of minerals of dust in the lung was proposed.