W J Rogan1, N B Ragan, G E Dinse. 1. Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. rogan@niehs.nih.gov
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Jobs involving heavy asbestos exposure increase risk for lung cancer and mesothelioma substantially, and low-level exposures may carry some risk. At least one indicator of asbestos exposure, mesothelioma, has been increasing in the US for decades. We investigated the prevalence of another indicator, pleural thickening on x-ray, in a defined sample of the US population. METHODS: Certified physicians read 1060 x-rays from the second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1976-1980) for pleural changes consistent with pneumoconiosis, which are a reasonably specific indicator of asbestos exposure. RESULTS: Prevalence estimates, in NHANES II, in the age group 35-74 years, are 6.4% (+/- 0.9%) among males, 1.7% (+/- 0.6%) among females, and 3.9% (+/- 0.6%) overall. These prevalences are approximately twice those estimated from NHANES I data (1971-1975). CONCLUSIONS: X-ray evidence of asbestos exposure was common in the late 1970s and increasing. The increase may be due to occupational asbestos exposure, but it is so large as to suggest some contribution from environmental, non-occupational asbestos exposure.
OBJECTIVES: Jobs involving heavy asbestos exposure increase risk for lung cancer and mesothelioma substantially, and low-level exposures may carry some risk. At least one indicator of asbestos exposure, mesothelioma, has been increasing in the US for decades. We investigated the prevalence of another indicator, pleural thickening on x-ray, in a defined sample of the US population. METHODS: Certified physicians read 1060 x-rays from the second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1976-1980) for pleural changes consistent with pneumoconiosis, which are a reasonably specific indicator of asbestos exposure. RESULTS: Prevalence estimates, in NHANES II, in the age group 35-74 years, are 6.4% (+/- 0.9%) among males, 1.7% (+/- 0.6%) among females, and 3.9% (+/- 0.6%) overall. These prevalences are approximately twice those estimated from NHANES I data (1971-1975). CONCLUSIONS: X-ray evidence of asbestos exposure was common in the late 1970s and increasing. The increase may be due to occupational asbestos exposure, but it is so large as to suggest some contribution from environmental, non-occupational asbestos exposure.
Authors: Amy M Rohs; James E Lockey; Kari K Dunning; Rakesh Shukla; Huihao Fan; Tim Hilbert; Eric Borton; Jerome Wiot; Cristopher Meyer; Ralph T Shipley; Grace K Lemasters; Vikas Kapil Journal: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Date: 2007-12-06 Impact factor: 21.405
Authors: Tetsuro Araki; Masahiro Yanagawa; Fangui Jenny Sun; Josée Dupuis; Mizuki Nishino; Yoshitake Yamada; George R Washko; David C Christiani; Noriyuki Tomiyama; George T O'Connor; Gary M Hunninghake; Hiroto Hatabu Journal: Occup Environ Med Date: 2017-05-03 Impact factor: 4.402