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Table 2 Characteristics of particles and fibers by SEM/EDX

From: Analysis of particles from hamster lungs following pulmonary talc exposures: implications for pathogenicity

Particles or Fibers

Count

Percentage

Greatest Dimension - Length (μm) Ave ± SD

Aspect Ratio Ave

Particles by Morphology

156

78.0%

7.3 ± 5.0

1.7

Fiber by Morphology Aspect ratio 3:1or >

44

22.0%

13.1 ± 9.3

6.3

Asbestos by EDS

0

0%

0

0

Compositional Analysis

Talc by EDX MgSi wt% ratio 0.595–0.695

107

53.5%

  

  Particles

77

72.0%

9.2 ± 5.4

1.8

  Fibers - Aspect ratio 3:1or >

30

28.7%

14.9 ± 9.8

6.7

MgSi by EDX but not talc by wt% ratio

5

2.5%

  

  Particles

3

60.0%

10.8 ± 6.0

1.4

  Fibers - Aspect ratio 3:1 or >

2

40.0%

7.9 ± 5.9

4.1

MgSi by EDX, but not talc by composition

60

30.0%

  

  Particles

51

85.0%

5.3 ± 4.0

1.7

  Fibers - Aspect ratio 3:1or >

9

15.0%

8.8 ± 6.3

6.3

Mg + Si + > 5% Ti, Al, or Ca

27

13.5%

  

  Particles

24

88.9%

5.5 ± 4.5

1.5

  Fibers - Aspect ratio 3:1or >

3

11.1%

11.7 ± 10.5

4.8

Mg + Si + > 5% Cr (particle)

1

0.5%

2.03

1.2