RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Lung function, radiologic changes and exposure: analysis of ATSDR data from Libby, Montana
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP erj00502-2010
DO 10.1183/09031936.00050210
A1 D. Weill
A1 G. Dhillon
A1 L. Freyder
A1 J. Lefante
A1 H. Glindmeyer
YR 2011
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2010/12/22/09031936.00050210.abstract
AB In 2000, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry investigated lung disease in those exposed to the tremolite contaminated vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana. Previously unreported, spirometric results are presented here in relation to exposure and radiographic findings.4524 study participants were assigned to one of 7 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 1970's.Spirometry for the total population by smoking status and age were within normal range. Prevalence of pleural plaque increased with age, but was lowest in the environmentally exposed group (0.42% to 12.74%) and greatest in the mineworkers (20% to 45.68%). For men, there was a significant (4.5%) effect of pleural plaques on FVC. For Grace workers and household contacts, a reduction in plaque (0.11% v 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.