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Radiological evidence of asbestos disease among ship repair workers
Author(s) -
Selikoff Irving J.,
Nicholson William J.,
Lilis Ruth
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.4700010104
Subject(s) - asbestos , asbestosis , medicine , radiological weapon , shipyard , environmental health , surgery , shipbuilding , lung , archaeology , materials science , metallurgy , history
Asbestos materials are now infrequently used in new ship construction. However, significant amounts were used in vessels constructed before 1975. As a consequence, for the next 30 or more years, the potential for asbestos exposure in the repair of such vessels will remain. We studied 286 workers who were 20 or more years from onset of employment in ship repair work. Eighty‐six percent had radiological evidence of asbestosis, and five instances of previously undiagnosed lung cancer were found. This suggests that unless industrial hygiene precautions are taken in the future repair of vessels that have been built with asbestos, we will add additional decades to the legacy we already face as the result of uncontrolled shipyard exposures of the past.