Change in prevalence of asbestos‐related disease among sheet metal workers 1986 to 2016

Abstract

Background: A medical screening program began in 1986 for sheet metal workers exposed to asbestos, primarily while working alongside insulators applying spray-on asbestos materials, a practice banned in 1973. Exposure continues during maintenance, renovation, and repair. Methods: Radiographic abnormalities among 26 397 sheet metal workers examined from 1986 to 2016 were analyzed by year of entry into the trade. Logistic regression was used to examine risk factors for parenchymal and pleural abnormalities among the overall study population and among the subcohort who entered the trade after 1973. Results: Prevalence of parenchymal disease was 17.4% for those starting work before 1950 compared with 0.8% for those starting work after 1973 (adjusted prevalence odds ratio [pOR] = 26.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 18.46-38.46). For each calendar year after 1973, entering the trade 1 year later was associated with an estimated 12.7% decreased odds of acquiring asbestos-related disease (adjusted pOR = 0.873, 95% CI = 0.832-0.916).Conclusion: Sheet metal workers who began work after the US implemented environmental and occupational regulations develop asbestos-related disease at much reduced rates, consistent with regulatory projections made for nonmalignant asbestos-related disease by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration at the time. Cancer remains a concern among this cohort, and lung cancer screening recommendations should consider year of entry into the trade. This study highlights the importance of regulatory intervention and of continued surveillance. K E Y W O R D S asbestos, asbestosis, construction, nonmalignant asbestos-related disease, sheet metal worker

Characteristics and factors associated with morbidity of migrant workers with pneumoconiosis: a cross-sectional study

“…West et al found that the rate of asbestos-related diseases is lower for sheet metal workers who started work after the implementation of environmental and occupational regulations in the USA. 8 Appropriate dust rules and regulations can aid in the protection of the legal rights of migrant workers exposed to dust and those who contract pneumoconiosis. Few migrant workers have post-employment medical examinations.…”

“…The majority of migrant workers with pneumoconiosis reported that their employers did not have dust rules and regulations. West et al found that the rate of asbestos-related diseases is lower for sheet metal workers who started work after the implementation of environmental and occupational regulations in the USA 8. Appropriate dust rules and regulations can aid in the protection of the legal rights of migrant workers exposed to dust and those who contract pneumoconiosis.…”

“…Existing studies have already shown that gender, education, working hours, and rules and regulations are factors associated with the morbidity of pneumoconiosis. [8][9][10] A cohort study of iron ore dust exposure discovered that both dust exposure and smoking are strongly linked with pneumoconiosis occurrence. 11 However, these have been found to be from general dust-exposed people, and fewer studies have examined the factors associated with the morbidity of pneumoconiosis in migrant workers.…”

“…Existing studies have already shown that gender, education, working hours, and rules and regulations are factors associated with the morbidity of pneumoconiosis 8–10. A cohort study of iron ore dust exposure discovered that both dust exposure and smoking are strongly linked with pneumoconiosis occurrence 11.…”

Incident chronic obstructive pulmonary disease associated with occupation, industry, and workplace exposures in the Health and Retirement Study

“…[34][35][36] Of these exposures, only asbestos was reported by enough workers in this industry group to meet reporting criteria for this study; the SHR for COPD among asbestos-exposed workers in this group was highly elevated. 37 ; pertinent industries and occupations include manufacturing, shipyard, and insulation industries 38 ; construction workers [39][40][41][42][43] ; and specifically sheet metal workers 44 ; automobile mechanics 40 ; and workers in mining industries and occupations and those that process the products of mining. 45 Finally, many I/O groups were small and did not have enough workers with COPD reporting exposure to any individual substance to permit evaluation of exposure effects.…”