Asbestos exposure and radiological abnormalities among maintenance and custodian workers in buildings with friable asbestos-containing materials.
OBJECTIVE
Few studies have been carried out to evaluate the respiratory effects of asbestos exposure of custodian and maintenance workers.


METHODS
By a multicentre cross-sectional study, 277 custodian and maintenance employees working in buildings with friable asbestos-containing materials and 87 unexposed subjects were studied for radiological abnormalities by use of the International Labour Office (ILO) classification of radiographs of pneumoconiosis, in relation to parameters of asbestos exposure.


RESULTS
The cumulative asbestos exposure index was generally low (fewer than 5 fibres/ml x years in 82.3% of exposed workers). On multivariate analysis, pleural thickening was significantly related to latency since onset of exposure to asbestos in exposed workers, after adjustment for age, body mass index and tobacco smoking.


CONCLUSIONS
Asbestos exposure of custodian and maintenance employees in buildings with friable asbestos-containing materials might be associated with an excess of pleural thickening on chest X-rays.
Matrat
Mireille
M
Institut Interuniversitaire de Médecine du Travail de Paris-Ile de France, Paris, France.
Pairon
Jean-Claude
JC
Paolillo
Ann-Gaëlle
AG
Joly
Nathalie
N
Iwatsubo
Yuriko
Y
Orlowski
Ewa
E
Letourneux
Marc
M
Ameille
Jacques
J
D000328:Adult; D001194:Asbestos / Q000633:toxicity*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011009:Pneumoconiosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors
D001194:Asbestos