Effects of asbestos in dockyard workers.
The prevalence of pleural and pulmonary abnormalities attributed to asbestos among 15,000 workers in a naval dockyard has been studied by means of a one-in-ten sample. Ninety-four per cent. of the men in the sample were examined. Of these, 3% had experienced continuous occupational exposure to asbestos and half of the remainder (representing approximately 6,800 men) had been exposed intermittently. The prevalence of pleural fibrosis ranged from 28% in continuously exposed workers to 1.9% in those with least exposure.Most cases of pulmonary fibrosis occurred in laggers and sprayers who had been continuously exposed for between 15 and 20 years. Pulmonary fibrosis was also seen in a variety of intermittently exposed trades, and had been preceded by extensive pleural thickening in some cases. Ten cases of pleural mesothelioma have occurred in the last three years and a large number of men appear to be potentially at risk.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000453:epidemiology; D004739:England; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008400:Mass Chest X-Ray; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology