X-ray evidence of increased asbestos exposure in the US population from NHANES I and NHANES II, 1973-1978. National Health Examination Survey.
OBJECTIVE
Jobs involving heavy asbestos exposure increase risk for lung cancer and mesothelioma substantially, and low-level exposures may carry some risk. At least one indicator of asbestos exposure, mesothelioma, has been increasing in the US for decades. We investigated the prevalence of another indicator, pleural thickening on x-ray, in a defined sample of the US population.


METHODS
Certified physicians read 1060 x-rays from the second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1976-1980) for pleural changes consistent with pneumoconiosis, which are a reasonably specific indicator of asbestos exposure.


RESULTS
Prevalence estimates, in NHANES II, in the age group 35-74 years, are 6.4% (+/- 0.9%) among males, 1.7% (+/- 0.6%) among females, and 3.9% (+/- 0.6%) overall. These prevalences are approximately twice those estimated from NHANES I data (1971-1975).


CONCLUSIONS
X-ray evidence of asbestos exposure was common in the late 1970s and increasing. The increase may be due to occupational asbestos exposure, but it is so large as to suggest some contribution from environmental, non-occupational asbestos exposure.
Rogan
W J
WJ
Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. rogan@niehs.nih.gov
Ragan
N B
NB
Dinse
G E
GE
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D001194:Asbestos