US EPA

3097253 

Journal Article 

Dose-Response Relationship between Asbestos Exposure and Incidence of Asbestosis 

Zhu, H 

1990 

Yes 

American Review of Respiratory Disease
ISSN: 0003-0805 

NIOSH/00198617 

142 

6 

1331-1336 

The reliability of hygiene criteria for asbestos (1332214) exposure in China was investigated, and a scientific basis was provided for future modification of these criteria. Beijing asbestos factory was established in the 1950s with no anti dust measures. The asbestos concentration reached as high as 300 mg/m3. Working conditions have improved since the 1960s, and by the end of 1982 90% of the dust samples had reached the recommended standard. Subjects who worked in one of three types of workshops (raw material handling, carding and spinning, or weaving) were selected for study. Of the 532 who had regular X-ray photographs, 46 had asbestosis. The probability of cumulative incidence was shown to be 2.54% when the cumulative exposure was from 0 to 199 milligrams/year (mg/yr). The cumulative incidence rate increased as the cumulative exposure increased. A correlation was demonstrated between the logarithm of asbestos exposures and the logit value of cumulative asbestosis incidence rate. The author concludes that the cumulative asbestosis rate would not be greater than 1% if a person worked for 40 years under the condition that the average asbestos concentration was not higher than 3.09mg/m3.