Evaluation of the pathological changes progress in people of long-term exposure to asbestos dust during 5-year observation.

In order to evaluate the dynamics of the pathological changes in the respiratory system of the workers exposed to asbestos dust in the industrial plants of Gdańk-Sopot-Gdynia, after the first series of examinations in 1981/82 the tests were repeated in 1986/87 comprising 340 persons i.e. 85.4% of previously examined. Minimal employment period was 10 years. After 5 years the state of health of the subjects got worse. The number of the chronic nonspecific lung diseases and the rate of ventilatory disorders increased. The number of the people with irregular small opacities present in the radiological picture of the lungs also got higher. After the period of 5 years more than a doubled increase of asbestosis was found. These changes were much more often in women. The author suggests that the exposure to asbestos longer than 10 years induces changes in the respiratory system of a progress that in the group observed proved to be distinct and quite rapid.