Asbestos and airflow limitation

Journal of Occupational Medicine. : Official Publication of the Industrial Medical Association
Z MohsenifarS K Koerner

Abstract

To assess the effect of asbestos on the airways, researchers studied 45 shipyard workers who were lifelong nonsmokers and had asbestos-related abnormalities seen on their chest roentgenograms. Patients with interstitial lung disease, bronchial asthma prior to asbestos exposure, recurrent pneumonias, or significant cardiovascular disease were excluded from the study. In addition to chest films, they had spirometry performed before and after bronchodilator inhalation, lung volumes, diffusing capacity, and arterial blood gases. Forced vital capacity and forced expired volume in one second were normal in all patients. Maximum midexpiratory flow rates (MMFR) were abnormal (MMFR less than 75% of predicted) in 13 patients (29%). Therefore, 29% of lifetime nonsmokers with asbestos exposure exhibited evidence of small airways dysfunction. An abnormal MMFR in these workers may be due, in part, to asbestos exposure and could conceivably indicate a population at risk for pulmonary fibrosis and/or obstructive airways disease.

Citations

May 1, 1989·Dental Materials : Official Publication of the Academy of Dental Materials·R S FultonS O Cheff
Mar 19, 2003·Archives of Environmental Health·Stephane DelpierreYves Jammes
Sep 10, 2004·American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·UNKNOWN American Thoracic Society
May 6, 2010·American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·Jacques AmeilleJean-Claude Pairon
May 1, 1993·British Journal of Industrial Medicine·K L Hunting, L S Welch
Feb 16, 2006·Chest·James E HansenKarlman Wasserman

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