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Clinical findings among asbestos workers in U.S.: Influence of cigarette smoking
Author(s) -
Lerman Yehuda,
Selikoff Irving J.,
Lilis Ruth,
Seidman Herbert,
Gelb MS Steven K.
Publication year - 1986
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.4700100503
Subject(s) - medicine , asbestos , smoking history , cigarette smoking , confounding , occupational exposure , epidemiology , environmental health , materials science , metallurgy
All members of a large union were invited to participate in a study of potentially adverse effects of asbestos exposure. Clinical findings among 1,117 workers (90% of those eligible for examination) are presented in this study. Cough was much less common among those without a history of cigarette smoking, although duration from onset of employment did not appreciably affect the prevalence of cough among the smokers. Rhonchi present among nonsmokers were limited in extent, but were marked and diffuse among cigarette smokers. Although dyspnea was as prevalent among nonsmokers as in smokers forty years and more after onset of exposure, it was relatively uncommon and found only among smokers when examined shortly after onset of exposure. Cigarette smoking had less influence on the prevalence of rǎles among asbestos workers; both smokers and nonsmokers showed this finding when examined 30 years and more after onset of asbestos exposure. Analysis of powerhouse work experience and mask use as possible confounders indicated no difference in prevalence of these characteristics between the smokers and nonsmokers.