title: Continued spirometry changes after cessation of exposure in asbestos-cement workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess further progression of spirometry parameters among former asbestos-cement plant workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The following parameters were assessed: forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and the ratio (FEV1/FVC) using a linear regression model with mixed effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis included 3005 individuals. Spirometrically defined restrictive ventilatory defects were registered in 21.6% of the patients, obstructive defects in 8.3%, whereas mixed changes in 7%. Current smokers had significantly lower levels of FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC and a steeper decline compared with nonsmokers. More rapid progression was also observed along with increasing termination of exposure. Having higher exposure was associated with a slower decline in FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratios.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This report indicates that asbestos-cement workers with higher cumulative exposure still had lower mean levels of spirometric parameters, despite cessation of asbestos exposure many years ago.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Swiątkowska
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sobala
authors.forename: Sobala
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wojciech
authors.forename: Zuzanna
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Szubert
authors.forename: Neonila
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Szeszenia-Dąbrowska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001194:Asbestos / Q000633:toxicity*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013147:Spirometry
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos