Mineralogical analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as an aid to diagnosis of "imported" pleural asbestosis.

Benign and malignant pleural disease can be related to the inhalation of asbestos fibres resulting from occupational exposure. In some areas of the world (notably Corsica, Canada, and Turkey), however, there is a nonoccupational hazard because asbestos fibres are present in the soil. We report an "imported" case of pleural disease related to non-occupational asbestos exposure in which the diagnosis was established by bronchoalveolar lavage.