Retrospective exposure assessment to airborne asbestos among power industry workers

Abstract

BackgroundA method of individually assessing former exposure to asbestos fibres is a precondition of risk-differentiated health surveillance. The main aims of our study were to assess former levels of airborne asbestos exposure in the power industry in Germany and to propose a basic strategy for health surveillance and the early detection of asbestos related diseases.MethodsBetween March 2002 and the end of 2006, we conducted a retrospective questionnaire based survey of occupational tasks and exposures with airborne asbestos fibres in a cohort of 8632 formerly asbestos exposed power industry workers. The data on exposure and occupation were entered into a specially designed computer programme, based on ambient monitoring of airborne asbestos fibre concentrations. The cumulative asbestos exposure was expressed as the product of the eight-hour time weighted average and the total duration of exposure in fibre years (fibres/cubic centimetre-years).ResultsData of 7775 (90% of the total) participants working in installations for power generation, power distribution or gas supply could be evaluated. The power generation group (n = 5284) had a mean age of 56 years, were exposed for 20 years and had an average cumulative asbestos exposure of 42 fibre years. The occupational group of "metalworkers" (n = 1600) had the highest mean value of 79 fibre years. The corresponding results for the power distribution group (n = 2491) were a mean age of 45 years, a mean exposure duration of 12 years and an average cumulative asbestos exposure of only 2.5 fibre years. The gas supply workers (n = 512) had a mean age of 54 years and a mean duration of exposure of 15 years.ConclusionsWhile the surveyed cohort as a whole was heavily exposed to asbestos dust, the power distribution group had a mean cumulative exposure of only 6% of that found in the power generation group. Based on the presented data, risk-differentiated disease surveillance focusing on metalworkers and electricians from the power generating industry seems justified. That combined with a sensitive examination technique would allow detecting asbestos related diseases early and efficiently.

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“…This was an expected finding, as most of the jobs were manual industrial activities. However, it has to be underlined that in comparison to western countries, the proportion of women is ver y high [5]. In the past, more women were occupationally exposed to asbestos in Romania, working in jobs traditionally done by men.…”

“…Numerous ways were developed to estimate the occupational exposure (self assessment, job titles, lenghts of exposure, specific occupational task, job-exposure matrix) [5,6]. In our cases, exposure assessment was based on the documentation provided by the past employer and on expert evaluation of the job risk.…”

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“…Therefore, workers coming into contact with insulation, including insulators, maintenance workers, plumbers, renovation workers, mechanics, welders, furnace operators, carpenters, and housekeepers are at an elevated risk for asbestos related diseases. 18,19 Individuals who are not directly exposed may be at risk from household members who are occupationally exposed.…”