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CISDOC database

Document ID (ISN)112398
CIS number 12-0159
ISSN - Serial title 1076-2752 - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Year 2011
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Mikulski M.A., Hartley P.G., Sprince N.L., Sanderson W.T., Lourens S., Worden N.E., Wang K., Fuortes L.J.
Title Risk and significance of chest radiograph and pulmonary function abnormalities in an elderly cohort of former nuclear weapons workers
Bibliographic information Sep. 2011, Vol.53, No.9, p.1046-1053. 43 ref.
Internet access Risk_and_significance_[BUY_THIS_ARTICLE] [in English]
Abstract The objective of this study was to estimate prevalence and risk factors for International Labour Organization radiographic abnormalities, and assess relationship of these abnormalities with spirometry results in former Department of Energy nuclear weapons workers. Participants were offered chest x-ray (CXR) and lung function testing. Three occupational medicine physicians read CXRs. Forty-five (5.9%) of 757 screened workers were found to have isolated parenchymal abnormalities on CXR and this rate is higher than that in many Department of Energy studies. Parenchymal and pleural abnormalities were found in 19 (2.5%) and 37 (4.9%) workers, respectively, and these rates are lower than those in other Department of Energy (DoE) studies to date. Lung function impairment was associated with radiographic abnormalities. This study found an elevated rate of parenchymal abnormalities compared to other DoE populations but the effect of age or other causes could not be ruled out.
Descriptors (primary) USA; pulmonary function; radiological classifications; older workers; armaments industry
Descriptors (secondary) beryllium; barium; asbestos; spirometry; exposure evaluation; long-term study; cohort study
Document type D - Periodical articles
Subject(s) Metal production and metalworking
Occupational pathology
Toxic and dangerous substances
Broad subject area(s) Occupational medicine, epidemiology
Chemical safety
Browse category(ies) Metalworking industry
Diseases of the respiratory system (except for pneumoconiosis & similar)
Pneumoconioses