Asbestos in the sputum, crackles in the lungs, and radiologic changes in women exposed to asbestos.
In a rural community in South Africa historically exposed to asbestos environmentally and occupationally, 200 women who had worked with asbestos and applied for medical examination to determine compensable asbestos disease were evaluated. Clinical and radiologic evaluation, sputum collection, and microscopic analysis were done. A questionnaire elicited type of exposure, duration, decade of first work exposure, and environmental exposure. Crackles were present in the lungs of 166 women and asbestos fibers and ferruginous bodies were present in 122. Asbestosis was identified in 26 and plural plaques in 62. Auscultation for crackles (rales) is useful in the initial examination of former asbestos workers in rural communities of developing countries.
National Institute for Occupational Health, Johannesburg, South Africa. daviej@health.gov.za
J C Anthony
JC
Davies
Danuta
D
Kielkowski
James I
JI
Phillips
Mondi
M
Govuzela
Albert
A
Solomon
M Rodgers
MR
Makofane
M Leonson
ML
Sekgobela
Estelle
E
Garton
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001194:Asbestos / Q000032:analysis*; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019016:Mineral Fibers / Q000032:analysis; D008906:Mining / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*; D011859:Radiography; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology*; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013183:Sputum / Q000737:chemistry*
D019016:Mineral Fibers; D001194:Asbestos