US prevalence of occupational pleural thickening. A look at chest X-rays from the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
The prevalence of occupational pleural thickening in the United States in the mid-1970s was estimated; since asbestos often produces pleural thickening, this estimate in turn was used to estimate the prevalence of asbestos exposure. Chest x-rays obtained by the 1971-1975 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were reread by three readers using the International Labour Office criteria for diagnosis of pleural thickening consistent with dust exposure. All 289 x-rays showing any pleural abnormalities plus a 3-to-1 age-, sex-, and race-matched control series were reread. Using two of three readings as "positive," and extrapolating to the US population from this defined sample, the authors showed that 2.3% of males and 0.2% of females had occupational pleural thickening on x-ray, with a strong increase with age in white males. This provides a US population estimate of 1.3 million people with occupational pleural thickening and approximately 8 million people with asbestos exposure in the mid-1970s. This cohort might make a substantial contribution to cancer mortality into the next century.
Rogan
W J
WJ
Epidemiology Branch, NIEHS, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.
Gladen
B C
BC
Ragan
N B
NB
Anderson
H A
HA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011009:Pneumoconiosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States
D001194:Asbestos