Mineralogy of lung tissue in dental laboratory technicians' pneumoconiosis

This article reports on a case of pneumoconiosis in a dental laboratory tec hnician with a history of respiratory exposure to dental materials. Special attention is paid to the mineralogical analysis of the lung biopsy. The ab undance of chromium, cobalt, and silica particles suggests that the dental technician's pneumoconiosis is the result of the combined effects of hard m etal dusts and silica particles generated during finishing dental framework s. Adequate technical protection such as a local ventilation system should be considered in dental laboratories to prevent respiratory exposure of den tal technicians to airborne contaminants.