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X‐ray findings, lung function, and respiratory symptoms in black South African vermiculite workers
Author(s) -
Hessel Patrick A.,
SluisCremer Gerhard K.
Publication year - 1989
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.4700150104
Subject(s) - vermiculite , asbestos , medicine , asbestosis , lung function , tremolite , respiratory system , pneumoconiosis , pulmonary function testing , lung , pathology , metallurgy , biology , materials science , horticulture
Abstract Health effects have been documented among American vermiculite workers who mined and processed vermiculite contaminated with amphibole asbestos, viz., tremolite‐actinolite. Workers mining and processing South African vermiculite (N = 172), which contains very little asbestos, underwent x‐ray examination and lung function testing and completed a respiratory symptom questionnaire. The vermiculite workers were compared with other workers involved in the mining or refining of copper. Only two of the vermiculite workers showed evidence of small opacities of 1/0 or more (according to the ILO 1980 classification); lung function was comparable with the other groups of workers, and there was no excess of respiratory symptoms among the vermiculite workers. It is concluded that workers exposed to vermiculite that is minimally contaminated with asbestos are probably not at risk for pneumoconiosis, lung function impairment, or respiratory symptoms. It is likely that the health effects observed in other studies of vermiculite workers are the result of concomitant asbestos exposure. A risk of mesothelioma caused by the fiber content of the vermiculite cannot be excluded by this study.