Medical screening of former asbestos cement workers in Israel: a pilot program.
A pilot screening program for the evaluation of former asbestos-cement workers was carried out in the Chest Disease Clinic of the Acco Public Health Office (Ministry of Health), Israel. A total of 184 subjects were evaluated using medical and occupational questionnaires, clinical examinations, and pulmonary function tests (forced expiratory volume, forced vital capacity). Thirty percent of individuals with more than 1 year of work experience had symptoms of breathlessness or cough. Individuals with 10 years or more of work experience showed a high prevalence of râles and reduced pulmonary function, as compared to those with shorter work histories. These findings indicate the urgent need for active follow-up of Israeli ex-asbestos workers. A proposed screening and surveillance program for this high-risk group is discussed with emphasis on follow-up, health education, and smoking cessation.
D000328:Adult; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012907:Smoking; D014797:Vital Capacity
D001194:Asbestos; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide