Research Article

Asbestos exposure and benign asbestos diseases in 772 formerly exposed workers: Dose–response relationships

  1. Giuseppe Mastrangelo MD1,
  2. Maria N. Ballarin MD2,
  3. Ernesto Bellini MD3,
  4. Fabio Bicciato MD4,
  5. Federica Zannol MD5,
  6. Francesco Gioffrè MD6,
  7. Antonio Zedde MD7,
  8. Gianna Tessadri MD8,
  9. Ugo Fedeli MD9,*,
  10. Flavio Valentini MD10,
  11. Luca Scoizzato MD1,
  12. Gianluca Marangi MD2,
  13. John H. Lange MD11

Article first published online: 16 JUN 2009

DOI: 10.1002/ajim.20713

Issue

American Journal of Industrial Medicine

American Journal of Industrial Medicine

Volume 52, Issue 8, pages 596–602, August 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Mastrangelo, G., Ballarin, M. N., Bellini, E., Bicciato, F., Zannol, F., Gioffrè, F., Zedde, A., Tessadri, G., Fedeli, U., Valentini, F., Scoizzato, L., Marangi, G. and Lange, J. H. (2009), Asbestos exposure and benign asbestos diseases in 772 formerly exposed workers: Dose–response relationships. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 52: 596–602. doi: 10.1002/ajim.20713

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy

  2. 2

    Occupational Health Service, Local Health Authority 12, Veneto Region, Venezia, Italy

  3. 3

    Occupational Health Service, Local Health Authority 18, Veneto Region, Rovigo, Italy

  4. 4

    Occupational Health Service, Local Health Authority 15, Veneto Region, Camposampiero, Italy

  5. 5

    Occupational Health Service, Local Health Authority 8, Veneto Region, Montebelluna, Italy

  6. 6

    Occupational Health Service, Local Health Authority 16, Veneto Region, Padova, Italy

  7. 7

    Occupational Health Service, Local Health Authority 20, Veneto Region, Verona, Italy

  8. 8

    Occupational Health Service, Local Health Authority 6, Veneto Region, Vicenza, Italy

  9. 9

    SER—Epidemiological Department, Veneto Region, Castelfranco Veneto, Italy

  10. 10

    Occupational Health Service, Local Health Authority 13, Veneto Region, Dolo, Italy

  11. 11

    Envirosafe Training and Consultants, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

*SER—Epidemiological Department, Veneto Region, Via Ospedale 18, 31033 Castelfranco Veneto (TV), Italy.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 9 JUL 2009
  2. Article first published online: 16 JUN 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 23 APR 2009

Funded by

  • Italian Ministry of University and Scientific and Technologic Research, (Progetti di Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica, art. 65 del D.P.R. 382/1980—quota 60%)
  • Regione Veneto and Italian Ministry of Health (DGR n. 5094 del 28 dicembre 1998; DGR 3241 del 6 ottobre 2000; DGR 397 del 1 marzo 2000)

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Keywords:

  • asbestos;
  • occupational exposure;
  • computed tomography;
  • asbestosis;
  • pleural plaques

Abstract

Background

Since previous studies have provided conflicting results, we investigated the relationship between the risk of benign asbestos-related diseases and different aspects of asbestos exposure in previous asbestos workers who underwent low-dose computed tomography (CT).

Methods

CT scans were carried out in 772 subjects. A questionnaire was employed to collect data on smoking habits and duration, peak and cumulative exposure, and time since first exposure to asbestos. Multiple logistic regression models with stepwise selection of variables were used to evaluate the associations.

Results

Fourteen (1.8%) cases of asbestosis, 187 (24.2%) of pleural plaques (PP), and 50 (6.5%) of diffuse pleural thickening (DPT) were found. The significant risk factors were: cumulative exposure for asbestosis (P for trend = 0.004); time since first exposure (P for trend <0.001), and peak exposure (P for trend <0.001) for PP; and time since first exposure for DPT (P for trend = 0.024).

Conclusions

Parenchymal asbestosis and PP are associated with different aspects of asbestos exposure. DPT appears to be less specific for asbestos exposure. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:596–602, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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