title: HRCT/CT and associated spirometric effects of low Libby amphibole asbestos exposure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the relationship between cumulative fiber exposure and high-resolution or conventional chest computed tomography (HRCT/CT) changes and spirometry of workers with Libby amphibole asbestos exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of the original 1980 cohort (n = 513), 431 were living and asked to participate. Images were evaluated for localized pleural thickening (LPT), diffuse pleural thickening (DPT), and parenchymal changes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 306 participants provided either HRCT/CT scans (n = 191) or chest radiographs (n = 115). Of the 191 with HRCT/CT, 52.9% had pleural changes and 13.1% had parenchymal changes. Those with LPT only, LPT and/or DPT, or DPT and/or parenchymal changes had mean 6.1, 8.0, and 18.0 loss in percent predicted forced vital capacity, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure to vermiculite containing amphibole fibers is associated with pleural and parenchymal HRCT/CT changes at low cumulative fiber exposure; these changes are associated with spirometric decrements.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Environmental Health, Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine (Dr Lockey), Department of Rehabilitation Sciences (Dr Dunning), and Department of Environmental Health (Mr Hilbert, Mr Borton, Drs Levin, Rice, and LeMasters), University of Cincinnati; Occupational Pulmonary Services (Dr McKay) and Department of Radiology (Dr Shipley), University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Ohio; Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (Dr Meyer), Madison; and Department of Radiology, Mercy Health-Anderson Hospital Cincinnati (Dr Perme), Ohio.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lockey
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dunning
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Hilbert
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Borton
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: Carol H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: Roy T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: McKay
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shipley
authors.forename: Cristopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perme
authors.forename: Grace K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: LeMasters
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity*; D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining; D009009:Montana; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D010994:Pleura / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013147:Spirometry; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole