Spirometric impairments in long-term insulators. Relationships to duration of exposure, smoking, and radiographic abnormalities.

A study of 2,611 long-term asbestos insulators was well suited to provide information on (1) the prevalence of spirometric impairments in a large, well-defined population and (2) the effects of cigarette smoking, radiographic abnormalities, and duration from onset of exposure on pulmonary function. Prevalences are reported by a mutually exclusive classification of impairments (normal, restrictive, obstructive, small airways, and combined) as well as by abnormality of specific spirometric tests (FVC, FEV1/FVC, and midexpiratory time). Only 3 percent of nonsmokers (NS) had obstruction and 6 percent a decreased FEV1/FVC.

Lung cancer in the Schneeberg mines: a reappraisal of the data reported by Harting and Hesse in 1879.

The first description of occupational lung cancer, by Harting and Hesse in 1879, unfortunately is not readily accessible. Its account of the vicissitudes of the Schneeberg miners merits study and is therefore presented in summary and set in a historical and geological context. The authors attempted to discover the cause of the disease and made recommendations for improving the health of miners.

Comparative quantitative evaluation of pleural fibrosis and its effects on pulmonary function in two large asbestos-exposed occupational groups--insulators and sheet metal workers.

Two large (N = 1584 and N = 1330) population groups of workers exposed to asbestos as insulators (I) or sheet metal workers (SM) were compared. Prevalence rates of radiographic changes including pleural fibrosis (circumscribed and diffuse) were found to be much higher in I than SM. An integrative index of pleural fibrosis (INDEX) showed similar distribution patterns in the two groups; the effect of INDEX on FVC% predicted was more marked in insulators.

Changes in PCB serum concentrations among capacitor manufacturing workers.

To assess the elimination of PCBs in humans, PCB concentrations in serum from 165 capacitor manufacturing workers were measured twice within a 46-month interval (March 1976-December 1979). Use of PCBs at the facility was entirely eliminated in 1977. PCB congeners with lower chlorination (LPCBs--mainly tri- and tetrachlorobiphenyls) had decreased in concentration, with six of the LPCB 7 peaks observed by packed column GC showing average reductions of 25-90%.