[Epidemiological risk assessment of asbestos-related benign pleural and parenchymal changes in workers after past exposure to chrysotile asbestos].
BACKGROUND
Health effects related with asbestos dust exposure are observed many years after its onset. The objective of the study was to evaluate the risk of pleural and parenchymal changes depending on the duration of exposure, lapse of time since first contact with asbestos dust, and cumulative dust exposure.


METHODS
The study population comprised 222 former workers of asbestos processing plants. Risk assessment was based on the results of chest radiograms and retrospective exposure measurements. The adjusted odds ratios (OR) were used as a relative risk measure and logistic regression models were employed in statistical analyses.


RESULTS
The risk of diffuse pleural thickening in the group of workers exposed to asbestos dust for more than 10 years (years x mg/m3) as well as the risk of parenchyma changes, density > or = 1/1, and diffuse pleural thickening in the group of workers employed under cumulative exposure to asbestos dust for similar period of time were significantly higher than in the reference group. No effect of the lapse of time since first contact with asbestos dust on the risk of analyzed radiological changes was observed in the study group.


CONCLUSIONS
The level of cumulative exposure to asbestos should be taken into account in the recommended frequency of preventive medical examinations of workers.
Zakład Epidemiologii Srodowiskowej, Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera, Łódź. dominika@imp.lodz.pl
Maria D
MD
Staniszewska
Wojciech
W
Sobala
Neonila
N
Szeszenia-Dabrowska
D017632:Asbestos, Serpentine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010994:Pleura / Q000473:pathology; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment
D017632:Asbestos, Serpentine