Pimpin IncharoenTuanseeta HamaLalida ArsaKaettipong KamprerasartSompong WongwichaiSomchai BovornkittiFaculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol UniversityAcademy of Science2020-01-272020-01-272019-01-01Open Respiratory Medicine Journal. Vol.13, No.1 (2019), 5-10187430642-s2.0-85069932851https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/52255© 2019 Incharoen et al. Background: Chrysotile asbestos has been used in Thailand for over 30 years mainly in asbestos-cement wall and roof tiles. In non-exposed subject, asbestos fiber can contaminate in ambient indoor and outdoor environments. Objective: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the current prevalence and volume of AB load in general Thai population. Methods: Lung tissues were obtained from 200 autopsy cases. Asbestos Bodies (AB) were identified with light microscopy using the tissue digestion and membrane filtration method. Results are reported as AB/g wet lung tissue. Results: AB was identified in 97(48.5%) out of 200 cases. The AB level ranged from 0.19-14.4 AB/g wet lung. Most of the positive cases (99%) have less than 10 AB/g wet lung. Only one case exhibited a high value at 14.4 AB/g wet lung. Age, gender, occupation and hometown were found to have no effect on AB burden in autopsy lung tissue from this study. Conclusion: The prevalence of AB in autopsy lung tissue from general Thai population is 48.5% and the AB level ranges from 0-14.4 AB/g wet lung in consistent with non-occupational asbestos exposure level regarding several reference reports.Mahidol UniversityMedicineArticleSCOPUS10.2174/1874306401913010005