The evaluation of mineral fibres within the pleural cavity and the possible subsequent pathological response in this region have the potential to provide important kinetic and pathological information. The pleural cavity, however, is a very dynamic environment with highly regulated pressures and fluid flows between the lung, the pleural space, and the chest wall. The difficulty of sampling the pleural cavity for fibre content stems from the dynamic conditions which maintain the physiological balance in the pleural cavity which changes dramatically post mortem.