JOURNAL ARTICLE
RESEARCH SUPPORT, NON-U.S. GOV'T
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

The Effects of Pleural Plaques on Longitudinal Lung Function in Vermiculite Miners of Libby, Montana.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to assess associations of pleural plaques (PP) and longitudinal lung function in vermiculite miners of Libby, Montana who are occupationally exposed to asbestos. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) was used to identify asbestos-related findings in former Libby vermiculite miners. We investigated annual lung function decline in miners with PP only and compared them to miners with normal HRCT findings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: HRCTs from 128 miners were categorized into the following 4 diagnostic groups: (1) normal computed tomography scan (n = 9); (2) PP only (n = 72); (3) PP and interstitial fibrosis (n = 26) and (4) additional HRCT abnormalities (n = 21) such as rounded atelectasis, diffuse pleural thickening, pleural effusions or pulmonary nodules or tumor >1cm in diameter. Random intercept and slope linear mixed-effect regression models identified differences in lung function decline between miners with asbestos-associated outcomes and those with normal HRCT. Models were adjusted for follow-up time, body mass index, smoking status, latent exposure period and employment years. Interactions for smoking status with age and smoking status with pleural plaque severity were examined.

RESULTS: Miners with PP only did not have an accelerated decline in lung function between 40 and 80 years. Miners with PP and additional HRCT abnormalities displayed significantly accelerated declines in forced expiratory volume in 1 second and diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (P = 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Plaque severity did not affect lung function decline. However, smokers with extensive plaques displayed accelerated loss in diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide and forced expiratory volume in 1 second when compared to nonsmoking miners with mild plaque formation.

CONCLUSIONS: PP alone did not significantly affect lung function decline in vermiculite miners of Libby, Montana.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app