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

Giannina Satta, Tiziana Serra, Federico Meloni, Achille Lazzarato, Alessandra Argiolas, Elisa Bosu, Antonella Coratza, Nicola Frau, Michele Lai, Luigi Isaia Lecca, Nicola Mascia, Ilaria Pilia, Veronica Piras, Giovanni Sferlazzo, Marcello Campagna and Pierluigi Cocco
Additional contact information
Giannina Satta: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Occupational Health unit, University of Cagliari, Asse didattico-Blocco I SS 554, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Tiziana Serra: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Occupational Health unit, University of Cagliari, Asse didattico-Blocco I SS 554, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Federico Meloni: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Occupational Health unit, University of Cagliari, Asse didattico-Blocco I SS 554, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Achille Lazzarato: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Occupational Health unit, University of Cagliari, Asse didattico-Blocco I SS 554, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Alessandra Argiolas: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Occupational Health unit, University of Cagliari, Asse didattico-Blocco I SS 554, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Elisa Bosu: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Occupational Health unit, University of Cagliari, Asse didattico-Blocco I SS 554, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Antonella Coratza: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Occupational Health unit, University of Cagliari, Asse didattico-Blocco I SS 554, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Nicola Frau: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Occupational Health unit, University of Cagliari, Asse didattico-Blocco I SS 554, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Michele Lai: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Occupational Health unit, University of Cagliari, Asse didattico-Blocco I SS 554, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Luigi Isaia Lecca: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Occupational Health unit, University of Cagliari, Asse didattico-Blocco I SS 554, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Nicola Mascia: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Occupational Health unit, University of Cagliari, Asse didattico-Blocco I SS 554, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Ilaria Pilia: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Occupational Health unit, University of Cagliari, Asse didattico-Blocco I SS 554, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Veronica Piras: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Occupational Health unit, University of Cagliari, Asse didattico-Blocco I SS 554, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Giovanni Sferlazzo: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Occupational Health unit, University of Cagliari, Asse didattico-Blocco I SS 554, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Marcello Campagna: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Occupational Health unit, University of Cagliari, Asse didattico-Blocco I SS 554, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Pierluigi Cocco: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Occupational Health unit, University of Cagliari, Asse didattico-Blocco I SS 554, 09042 Monserrato, Italy

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 17, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Background : In spite of the reduced exposure level, and its ban in numerous countries, compensation claims for asbestos-related diseases are far from decreasing. Methods : 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. Results : 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 ( p = 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, p = 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). Conclusions : 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.

Keywords: asbestos; respiratory function; CT scan; retrospective exposure assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/1/50/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/1/50/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2019:i:1:p:50-:d:299892

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().