Detection of silica particles in lung tissue of non-occupationally exposed individuals by computer controlled scanning electron microscopy

ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS In addition to my advisor and mentor, Professor R. William Field, I thank the other members of my thesis committee, Professor James A. Merchant and Professor Charles F. Lynch for their assistance and also for their insight. I also would like to thank Professor Charles Platz for his contributions to the development of this study, as well as his expertise which made this study possible. I thank Freda Selk of the Iowa Cancer Registry for her assistance with the handling and selection of the blocks used for this study. Furthermore, this research would not have been completed without the funding support provided by The University of Iowa Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination as well as the fellowship support granted to me by the Occupational Epidemiology Training Program of the Heartland Center for Occupational Health and Safety.