title: Asbestos exposure and radiological abnormalities among maintenance and custodian workers in buildings with friable asbestos-containing materials.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institut Interuniversitaire de Médecine du Travail de Paris-Ile de France, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Mireille
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matrat
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Pairon
authors.forename: Ann-Gaëlle
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Paolillo
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Joly
authors.forename: Yuriko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwatsubo
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Orlowski
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Letourneux
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ameille
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos