Abstract
Adsorption is considered herein as a factor in the pneumoconioses. The strength of the adsorptive bonds is one aspect which may be relatable to the fibrogenic activity of the dusts. To investigate this characteristic, globulins were adsorbed onto 14 different dusts. A constant determined from the adsorption isotherm was used as an index of the strength. Dusts known to be less active in evoking the production of fibrous tissue exhibited either strong or weak bonds. The active dusts, quartz, cristobalite, and asbestos, fell in between. These results support the hypothesis. Furthermore, they fit into some of the presently accepted concepts about the pneumoconioses.