My laboratory continues its interest in analyzing lung tissue for its asbestos content and correlating these results with pathologic diagnoses and with exposure histories. Both concentrations of asbestos fibers and types of fibers present are determined by a combination of light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer. Studies are also performed on lung tissue from individuals with other types of occupational exposures, such as coal dust and silica. This primarily involves in situ analysis of particulates in tissue sections using a combination of scanning electron microscopy, back scattered electron imaging, and energy dispersive x-ray analysis. Similar technology is used to analyze urinary calculi and xenobiotics within tissue samples, such as silicone in breast implant capsules.