Non‐malignant asbestos‐related diseases in Brazilian asbestos‐cement workers

Abstract

Pleural thickening and asbestosis showed a significant association with latency time and exposure. FVC and FEV(1) decreased across increasing profusion with an added effect of pleural thickening. There was a significant and independent effect of exposure on lower levels of FVC and FEV(1). Obstructive defects were mainly related to smoking and restriction to asbestosis. Dust exposure and smoking were synergistic in increasing chronic bronchitis and shortness of breath report. Shortness of breath report was also related to pleural thickening and higher body mass index.

Exposição ocupacional e ocorrência de pneumoconioses na região de Campinas (SP) Brasil, 1978-2003

“…(13) Another study, evaluating 828 former fiber cement industry workers, found that 74 (5.9%) had asbestosis and 246 (29.7%) presented pleural alterations. (14) In addition, the authors reported worsening of pulmonary function in the cases in which X-rays showed greater profusion. (14) Another group of authors conducted a cross-sectional study of morbidity among 4220 miners exposed to asbestos between 1940 and 1996.…”

“…(14) In addition, the authors reported worsening of pulmonary function in the cases in which X-rays showed greater profusion. (14) Another group of authors conducted a cross-sectional study of morbidity among 4220 miners exposed to asbestos between 1940 and 1996. (15) Based on clinical data, occupational histories, pulmonary function test results, chest X-ray findings and high-resolution computed tomography findings, the authors identified 17 cases of fibrosis (0.4%), 18 cases of fibrosis with platelets (0.43%) and 71 cases presenting pleural platelets (1.68%).…”

Mortality due to pneumoconioses in macro-regions of Brazil from 1979 to 1998

“…It should be noticed, however, that in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro morbidity and mortality due to pneumoconioses are predominantly the result of industrial productive processes, whereas, in Minas Gerais, they originate mostly from mining processes (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15) .…”

Dispnéia crônica e alterações funcionais respiratórias em ex-trabalhadores com asbestose avaliados para concessão de benefício

“…The questionnaire sequence was not random (BDI, followed by 1984 AMA, 1993 AMA and MRC scales). The MRC, 1984 AMA and 1993 AMA scales have been translated into Portuguese and have been used in other studies carried out in our milieu (12,20) . In the present study, the BDI questionnaire was translated into Portuguese by two medical professionals, both It should also be emphasized that this scale has been used in our milieu (11,21) .…”

“…The degree of functional impairment in the patients studied appears to be lower than that observed in other interstitial diseases, thereby making physiological reproducibility of subjective patients complaints uncertain (10,11) . Although previous studies assessing chronic dyspnea in laborers working with fiber-cement have been carried out in our milieu (12) , we are unaware of any studies conducting comparative evaluations of the various dyspnea scales or of their functional repercussions in former workers with asbestosis who seek to obtain pension benefits.…”