Evaluation of pathological changes in respiratory system of workers exposed to asbestos dust. Part I: Prevalence and dynamics of chronic nonspecific pulmonary diseases.
In order to evaluate dynamics of pathological changes in the respiratory system in workers exposed to asbestos dust in the industrial plants of Gdańsk and Gdynia, after the first series of examinations conducted in 1981-1985 another series of repeated examinations of the same workers was carried out in 1986-1989, comprising 548 people, that is 80.5% of the total number of the workers previously examined. Their health deteriorated in 1986-89. The number of chronic nonspecific lung diseases (c.n.l.d.) diagnosed in them increased from 26.4% to 35%. The increased prevalence of these diseases was found to be related to their age, smoking habit and the period of their employment. A statistically significant increase in the prevalence of the c.n.l.d. was noted in the group of people who worked in these plants for 15-19 years. This increase was more marked in women than in men.
Renke
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Outpatient Department of Occupational and Tropical Diseases, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Gdynia.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003371:Cough / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
D004391:Dust; D001194:Asbestos