TY - JOUR T1 - Environmental exposure to asbestos-related radiological and/or functional interference in patients with clinical findings, and computed tomography findings of the quality of life JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 40 IS - Suppl 56 SP - P4015 AU - Güven Çosgun AU - Fatma Evyapan AU - Nevzat Karabulut Y1 - 2012/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P4015.abstract N2 - Natural asbestos deposits found in some countries such as Turkey are main sources of environmental asbestos exposure (EAE) which may constitute a major health problem. The aim of our study was to furher evaluate the asbestos related standard radiological findings in a population with EAE with low dose computed tomography(CT). Also pulmonary function tests, diffusing capacity, exercise capacty (6 m walking test,6MWT) and quality of life (SF-36) were assessed. People from Çal Süller region of Denizli with Standard chest X ray findings consistent with asbestos exposure were enrolled in this study. Pleural plaque (PP) and lung volumes (LV) volumes were calculated by measuring the three axes. PP ratio was calculated by dividing PP to LV.Total 75 with mean age 70,4 with radiographic abnormalities were enrolled to the study.66 cases PP were on thorax CT. Remaining 9 patients cacific granuloma (2 cases) and calcific sequela (7 cases) were misinterpreted as calcific PP. Aditionally asbestosis in 12 cases. There was no statistically significant correlation between diffusing capacity, 6MWT with PP volume as well as PP index. Quality of life indexes were lower than the established norm values of Turkish people.However the diffusing capacity, 6MWT and quality of life values were statistically lower in asbestosis patients.Our study is the first to demonstrate that EAE may affect quality of life.Early asbestosis may have an impact on respiratory functions and exercise capacity of affected people. As previously shown asbestos related PP have no effect of respiratory function tests and exercise test. ER -