Jump to main content
US EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Search
Search
Main menu
Environmental Topics
Laws & Regulations
About EPA
Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)
Contact Us
Print
Feedback
Export to File
Search:
This record has one attached file:
Add More Files
Attach File(s):
Display Name for File*:
Save
Citation
Tags
HERO ID
711555
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Lung function, radiological changes and exposure: Analysis of ATSDR data from Libby, MT, USA
Author(s)
Weill, D; Dhillon, G; Freyder, L; Lefante, J; Glindmeyer, H
Year
2011
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
European Respiratory Journal
ISSN:
0903-1936
EISSN:
1399-3003
Volume
38
Issue
2
Page Numbers
376-383
Language
English
PMID
21177846
DOI
10.1183/09031936.00050210
Web of Science Id
WOS:000293280400021
Abstract
In 2000, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR; Atlanta, GA, USA) investigated lung disease in those exposed to the tremolite-contaminated vermiculite mine in Libby, MT, USA. Previously unreported spirometric results are presented here in relation to exposure and radiographic findings.
4,524 study participants were assigned to one of seven mutually exclusive exposure categories. Associations among radiographic findings, spirometric results and exposure were investigated, along with the effect of a reduction in exposure potential when production was moved to a wet process mill in the mid 1970s.
Spirometry data for the total population by smoking status and age were within the normal range. Prevalence of pleural plaque increased with age, but was lowest in the environmentally exposed group (0.42–12.74%) and greatest in the W.R. Grace & Co. mineworkers (20–45.68%). For males, there was a significant (4.5%) effect of pleural plaques on forced vital capacity. For W.R. Grace & Co. workers and household contacts, a reduction in plaque (0.11 versus 1.64%) and in diffuse pleural thickening or costophrenic angle obliteration (1.94 and 0.13%) was noted for those exposed after 1976.
These analyses do not support a clinically important reduction in spirometry of this cohort. The 1976 reductions in exposure have led to decrease in radiographic changes.
Keywords
Asbestos-related lung disease; Libby; spirometry; tremolite; vermiculite
Tags
IRIS
•
Asbestos
•
Libby Amphibole Asbestos (Draft, 2011)
Pulmonary Function Search, Sept 2013
Database Search
Full Text Screening
Primary source studies
OPPT REs
•
OPPT_Asbestos, Part I: Chrysotile_F. Human Health
Total – title/abstract screening
On topic
Peer review
Primary source
Other forms of asbestos
•
OPPT_Asbestos, Part I: Chrysotile_Supplemental Search
Vermiculite
Home
Learn about HERO
Using HERO
Search HERO
Projects in HERO
Risk Assessment
Transparency & Integrity