Pulmonary Function and CT Scan Imaging at Low-Level Occupational Exposureto Asbestos

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 17; no. 1; p. 50
• Main Authors: Satta, Giannina, Serra, Tiziana, Meloni, Federico, Lazzarato, Achille, Argiolas, Alessandra, Bosu, Elisa, Coratza, Antonella, Frau, Nicola, Lai, Michele, Lecca, Luigi Isaia, Mascia, Nicola, Pilia, Ilaria, Piras, Veronica, Sferlazzo, Giovanni, Campagna, Marcello, Cocco, Pierluigi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 19.12.2019; MDPI
• Subjects: Adult; Asbestos; Asbestos - adverse effects; Asbestosis - diagnostic imaging; Asbestosis - epidemiology; Asbestosis - physiopathology; Computed tomography; Confidence intervals; Estimates; Exposure; Fibers; Fibrosis; Humans; Italy - epidemiology; Lung - diagnostic imaging; Lung - physiopathology; Male; Medical imaging; Middle Aged; Occupational exposure; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Occupational health; Population; Population studies; Pulmonary functions; Regression analysis; Respiratory function; Retrospective Studies; Smoking; Surveillance; Tobacco; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Variance analysis; Work environment; Italy; respiratory function; asbestos; retrospective exposure assessment; CT scan
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17010050

: In spite of the reduced exposure level, and its ban in numerous countries, compensation claims for asbestos-related diseases are far from decreasing. : We used retrospective exposure assessment techniques to explore respiratory function and a computerized tomography (CT) scan in relation to past asbestos exposure in 115 male workers retired from an acrylic and polyester fiber plant. Based, on detailed information on exposure circumstances, we reconstructed a cumulative exposure estimate for each patient. : Time-weighted average exposure in our study population was 0.24 fibers/ml (95% confidence inteval (CI) 0.19-0.29), and the average cumulative exposure was 4.51 fibers/mL-years (95% CI 3.95-5.07). Exposure was elevated among maintenance workers, compared to other jobs ( = 0.00001). Respiratory function parameters did not vary in relation to the exposure estimates, nor to CT scan results. Risk of interstitial fibrosis showed a significant upward trend (Wald test for trend = 2.62, = 0.009) with cumulative exposure to asbestos; risk associated with 5.26 fibers/mL-years or more, was 8-fold (95% CI 1.18-54.5). : Our results suggest that a CT scan can detect pleuro-parenchymal lung alterations at asbestos exposure levels lower than previously thought, in absence of respiratory impairment. Further studies are required to validate our techniques of retrospective assessment of asbestos exposure.