Effects of smoking on respiratory function and exercise performance in asbestos workers.

To determine the role of smoking in the development of pulmonary impairment in asbestos workers, 66 nonsmoking asbestos workers and 70 smoking asbestos workers were studied. Occupational and medical questionnaires, lung function and exercise test were conducted in all subjects. The frequencies of dyspnea and cough on questions were significantly higher in the smoking workers than those in nonsmoking workers. Similarly, FEV1, FEV1/FVC and DLco were significantly lower in the smoking workers. Exercise performance showed that the smoking workers had higher index of dyspnea and lower breathing reserve, Vo2 and Vo2 max than nonsmoking workers did. We concluded that cigarette smoking has marked effects on both of respiratory function and exercise performance in asbestos workers. Among them, smokers show more serious obstructive impairment in static lung function testing and more significant limitation during exercise. The history of cigarette smoking deserves close attention in the evaluation of pulmonary impairment from asbestos exposure.