Preview
Creation Date
9-28-2017
Description
This is our microscopic image of rodent lung tissue showing pulmonary fibrosis due to long-term exposure to naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) found in Boulder City, Southern Nevada. NOA is an environmental pollutant that through multiple means of deterioration, such as construction and mining can become airborne fibers. When asbestos fibers are inhaled, it can accumulate over time in the lung tissue, cause cellular damage, inflammation, and pulmonary fibrosis. We believe that the presence of pulmonary fibrosis in animals collected around Boulder City suggests that people living in the same area could be experiencing ongoing exposure to asbestos fibers and negative health-effects.