US EPA

758951 

Journal Article 

Review 

The effect of asbestos-induced pleural fibrosis on pulmonary function: Quantitative evaluation 

Lilis, R; Miller, A; Godbold, J; Chan, E; Benkert, S; Selikoff, IJ 

1991 

Yes 

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
ISSN: 0077-8923
EISSN: 1749-6632 

NIOSH/00207135 

643 

ED. 

162-168 

English 

1809129 

10.1111/j.1749-6632.1991.tb24458.x 

WOS:A1991JM56800016 

The effect of asbestos (1332214) induced pleural fibrosis on pulmonary function was studied in 1584 asbestos insulation workers with long term exposure. The subjects received physical examinations and determinations were made regarding smoking history. A comprehensive integrated pleural index based on the extent of the x-ray abnormalities was constructed. Attempts were made to correlate the pleural index with age, forced vital capacity (FVC), smoking, and years since first exposure. X-ray abnormalities indicative of pleural fibrosis were seen in 75% of the subjects. The proportion of subjects with high values of the pleural index was significantly larger when interstitial pulmonary fibrosis was present. FVC was significantly, negatively correlated with the pleural index, smoking, and years since first exposure in all subjects. In subjects with pleural abnormalities only, the pleural index was significantly correlated with FVC, smoking, and years since first exposure. For each value of the index, the decrement in FVC was greater when parenchymal abnormalities were also present. Decrements in FVC were also greater in smokers. FVC was also negatively correlated with the pleural index in subjects with circumscribed pleural fibrosis after adjusting for smoking, years since first exposure, and profusion of small opacities. The authors conclude that the pleural index is useful for quantifying pleural changes in epidemiological studies. Pleural fibrosis, as indicated by the pleural index, is a significant variable that negatively affects FVC. 

Asbestos; 1332-21-4; Index Medicus; Pleura -- physiopathology; Respiratory Function Tests; Smoking -- adverse effects; Asbestos -- adverse effects; Pulmonary Fibrosis -- physiopathology; Pulmonary Fibrosis -- etiology 

Collegium Ramazzini 

New York, NY 

June 7-9, 1990