Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Rev Saude Publica. 2010 Jun;44(3):541-7. doi: 10.1590/s0034-89102010005000017. Epub 2010 May 21.
To evaluate late respiratory effects from occupational inhalation of talc contaminated with asbestos.
This was a case series study on 29 former talc mining workers with asbestos contamination, in the municipality of Carandaí, Southeastern Brazil, who were attended at the State Workers' Health Reference Center in 2004 and 2005. Their clinical and occupational histories were obtained and they underwent spirometry and chest radiography. An exposure score was created; multiplying this by duration produced a cumulative talc exposure index. To confirm the association between the cumulative exposure index and the presence of radiological abnormalities suggestive of pneumoconiosis and/or pleural abnormalities, an exact logistic regression model was fitted to this.
All the former workers were males, with an average age of 48.2 years. Chest radiographs showed pleural abnormalities in three of them; parenchymatous opacity compatible with pneumoconiosis in one; and suspected pneumoconiosis in six. Spirometric abnormalities were found in three workers. Logistic regression showed an odds ratio of 1.059 (95% CI: 1.012; 1.125) for the cumulative exposure index, i.e. each unit increase in the index resulted in an increase of 5.9% in the chance of presenting radiological abnormalities compatible with or suspicious of pneumoconiosis. With regard to the median estimated latency period between the start of exposure and the diagnosing of pleural plaque, there was a significant difference (p = 0.013) between the cases (27.0 years) and non-cases (14.3 years).
These findings indicate the need for clinical control among workers who have been exposed to asbestos, particularly because of the late effects from exposure to this mineral.
评估滑石矿开采工人因吸入混有石棉的滑石而导致的晚期呼吸影响。
这是巴西东南部卡拉达伊市 29 名曾接触过混有石棉的滑石的前滑石矿工的病例系列研究，他们于 2004 年和 2005 年在州工人健康参考中心接受了检查。获取了他们的临床和职业病史，并进行了肺活量测定和胸部 X 线摄影。创建了一个暴露评分；将其与持续时间相乘得出累积滑石暴露指数。为了确认累积暴露指数与疑似尘肺和/或胸膜异常的放射学异常之间的关联，使用确切的逻辑回归模型对其进行拟合。
所有前工人均为男性，平均年龄为 48.2 岁。胸部 X 光片显示其中三人有胸膜异常；一人有与尘肺相符的实质混浊；六人有疑似尘肺。有三人出现了肺功能障碍异常。逻辑回归显示，累积暴露指数的比值比为 1.059（95%置信区间：1.012；1.125），即指数每增加一个单位，出现与尘肺相符或疑似尘肺的放射学异常的几率就会增加 5.9%。在暴露开始和胸膜斑块诊断之间的中位潜伏期方面，病例组（27.0 年）和非病例组（14.3 年）之间存在显著差异（p = 0.013）。
这些发现表明需要对接触过石棉的工人进行临床监测，特别是因为接触这种矿物质会产生晚期影响。
