Pulmonary function and radiographic changes in 598 workers with varying duration of exposure to asbestos
Bader, M.E.; Bader, R.A.; Teirstein, A.S.; Miller, A.; Selikoff, I.J.
Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine new York 37(4): 492-500
1970
ISSN/ISBN: 0027-2507 PMID: 5311172 Document Number: 3234
(1) 598 ambulatory asbestos workers were screened. In addition to clinical and roentgenographic studies, vital capacity and FEVi percent were measured in each subject. (2) 208 (35 percent) had a reduced vital capacity, and of these, 172 (29 percent) had functional abnormality suggestive of interstitial pulmonary disease (normal FEVi percent). (3) 100 workers (17 percent) had abnormal chest roentgenograms (grades 2 or 3). Parenchymal fibrosis was present in 45, pleural lesions in 37, and both pleural and parenchymal involvement in 18. (4) Significant symptoms and signs in this ambulatory group of workers were sparse compared to the greater incidence of functional and roentgenographic abnormalities. (5) Reduction of vital capacity preceded grade 2 or 3 roentgen abnormality by 10 to 15 years. Grade 2 or 3 radiographic changes do not appear until 20 years of exposure. After 30 years of exposure the incidence of functional and radiographic abnormalities is approximately the same. (6) In 16.8 percent of workers with grade 2 or 3 parenchymal fibrosis there was no decrease in vital capacity.
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