| Controls | Mesothelioma | Asbestosis | Pleural disease | |
| Subjects | 42 | 20 | 5 | 13 |
| Age yrs | 66.5±14 | 69±10 | 70±10.5 | 70.9±8.2 |
| Male/female | 34/8 | 18/2 | 5/0 | 13/0 |
| Nonsmoker/ex-smoker | 30/12 | 8/12 | 1/4 | 5/8 |
| FEV1 % pred | 100.1±11.1 | ND | 72.2±9.4*** | 90.2±17.5* |
| FVC % pred | 94.4±9.4 | ND | 78.9±10.4*** | 82.7±18.6* |
| FEV1/FVC % pred | 93.4±14.3 | ND | 76.2±7.8* | 80.1±12.7* |
| IMIG stage 2/stage 1b | NA | 19/1 | NA | NA |
Data are presented as n or mean±sd. FEV1; forced expiratory volume in 1 s; % pred: % predicted; FVC: forced vital capacity; IMIG: International Mesothelioma Interest Group; ND: not determined; NA: not applicable. *: p<0.05; and ***: p<0.001, significant differences between subjects with asbestosis or pleural plaques compared with normal controls.