title: Roentgenographic lung changes, asbestosis and mortality in a Belgian asbestos-cement factory.
abstract: Annual chest radiographs, work history and mortality of 1,973 workers in an asbestos-cement factory were correlated with age and with duration and level of dust exposure. Degree of radiographic lung change was significantly related to fibre-years of exposure in the case of small lung opacities, pleural adhesions and pleural thickening. For 29 cases of asbestosis diagnosed between 1963 and 1977, a highly significant dose-response relationship was found. In comparison with national mortality rates, there was an excess of deaths due to cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, although there was no relationship to fibre-years.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001194:Asbestos; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D001530:Belgium; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D010994:Pleura / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos