Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy of Filtrate from Lung Tissue Biopsies

We developed and tested a new method for in situ characterization and distribution of inorganic particles in biopsied lung tissue from three diverse human subject groups using field emission scanning electron microscopy with an energy dispersive analyzer. The ICP-MS data table provides the concentrations of elements (in parts per billion) analyzed in the filtrate solutions from the tissue digestion method. This step was done to help determine if the phases identified during the in situ examination might dissolve during tissue digestion in a bleach solution.