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.
Davies
J C Anthony
JC
National Institute for Occupational Health, Johannesburg, South Africa. daviej@health.gov.za
Kielkowski
Danuta
D
Phillips
James I
JI
Govuzela
Mondi
M
Solomon
Albert
A
Makofane
M Rodgers
MR
Sekgobela
M Leonson
ML
Garton
Estelle
E
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