[Pulmonary risks caused by exposure to glass fiber dust]

We observed two patients who, after inhaling glass fibre dust for 14 and 16 years, respectively, developed a cough and dyspnoea on exertion. Our investigation of transbronchially obtained lung tissue with the aid of light microscopy, electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray micro-analysis revealed fibrosis of mild extension in immediate topographical relationship to phagocytosed fragments of glass fibre. We conclude from these findings that inhaled glass fibre dust can develop a fibrogenic effect.