title: Lung function not affected by asbestos exposure in workers with normal Computed Tomography scan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been suggested that asbestos exposure affects lung function, even in the absence of asbestos-related pulmonary interstitial or pleural changes or emphysema.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed associations between well-known asbestos-related risk factors, such as individual cumulative asbestos exposure, and key lung function parameters in formerly asbestos-exposed power industry workers (N = 207) with normal CT scans. For this, we excluded participants with emphysema, fibrosis, pleural changes, or any combination of these.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lung function parameters of FVC, FEV1, DLCO/VA, and airway resistance were significantly associated with the burden of smoking, BMI and years since end of exposure (only DLCO/VA). However, they were not affected by factors directly related to amount (eg, cumulative exposure) or duration of asbestos exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results confirm the well-known correlation between lung function, smoking habits, and BMI. However, we found no significant association between lung function and asbestos exposure.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Occupational and Social Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9015-9781
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schikowsky
authors.affiliation: Institute for Occupational and Social Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Felten
authors.affiliation: Institute for Occupational and Social Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eisenhawer
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.|Department of Radiology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Institute for Occupational and Social Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kraus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004391:Dust; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D001194:Asbestos
keywords: CT; MDCT; asbestos dust; asbestos exposure; lung function