Investigation into the endogenous iron content of human lungs by Mössbauer spectroscopy.

Abstract

The Mössbauer absorption spectra of a selected group of human lunge are presented. The results show that the spectra of the storage iron material found in these lunge is similar to the reported spectra of the storage iron proteins ferritin or haemosiderin obtained from horse spleen. A significant amount of this material is found in a lung with a low dust content from an acute bronchitic, as well as in lungs with high dust contents. The Mössbauer effect can be used to distinguish between different iron compounds present in the lungs; the results suggest that it would be possible to obtain quantitative information about the storage iron protein content of the lungs.