Purpose: To characterize asbestosis today and to clarify the indications for high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in the surveillance of heavily exposed workers.
Methods: Six hundred and twenty-seven workers were screened and HRCT findings were classified and divided in two groups: pulmonary fibrosis (n = 86) and no fibrosis (n = 541).
Results: Most (65/86 = 76%) of the detected fibrosis cases were mild. The magnitude of asbestos exposure showed an unexpected inverse relation with fibrosis. In multivariate analyses, age, forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity ratio, and poor diffusing capacity were associated with HRCT fibrosis, but asbestos exposure was not.
Conclusions: Asbestosis seems to be characterized by mild fibrosis today even in heavily exposed workers. To avoid radiation exposure in HRCT, age and lung function data may be used only to a limited extent to select imaging candidates. Selection and recollection biases may distort the relation between asbestos exposure and fibrosis.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00420-009-0462-1 | DOI Listing |
Environ Monit Assess
January 2025
Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
This work examines the impact of the electrification of the Holon-Bat Yam passenger train line (central Israel) on air pollutant concentrations using data collected from air quality monitoring stations that operated at the train stations across the electrified train line. We present statistically significant reduction in the annual average NO, NO and NO concentrations (29-45%, 79-85% and 65-75%, respectively), attributed to the electrification of the passenger train line. The drop in the NO and NO concentrations was much stronger than in the NO concentrations, since NO is the main nitrogen species emitted by diesel locomotives.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Occup Health
January 2025
Department of Environmental Health, University of Fukui School of Medical Science, Eiheiji, Fukui, Japan.
Objectives: Many chemicals have been used for industrial purposes, and some of them are carcinogenic to humans. However, their molecular mechanisms have not been well understood. Reactive oxygen species are generated from industrial chemicals and contribute to carcinogenesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Public Health
January 2025
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
This short review addresses the pressing issue of lung cancer among firefighters, a population facing unique occupational hazards such as smoke inhalation and asbestos exposure. With lung cancer being a leading global cause of death, the study emphasizes the disproportionate burden on firefighters. Notably, wildfire smoke, containing carcinogenic elements, poses a rising significant threat to firefighters' respiratory health.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Med Case Rep
January 2025
Kabir Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Background: Malignant mesotheliomas are aggressive forms of tumors arising from mesothelial cells. The most common type is malignant pleural mesothelioma, which progresses rapidly and leads to pleural effusion. It typically affects older men and is strongly associated with asbestos exposure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Thorac Dis
December 2024
Cancer Registry of the Cantons of Zurich, Zug, Schaffhausen, and Schwyz, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Background: Pleural mesothelioma is mainly caused by (occupational) asbestos exposure. Since 1990, the import and use of asbestos is prohibited in Switzerland. However, due to the long latency time between exposure and the development of disease, incidence in Switzerland was expected to further increase for years after the ban.
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