Radiographic and functional changes following exposure to different types of asbestos.

Lung function parameters were examined in 200 asbestos workers. Those exposed to chrysotile alone had less severe impairment than those exposed to both chrysotile and crocidolite. Functional changes did not vary significantly with duration of exposure; however radiographic abnormalities were related to length of exposure. Our results show that, for a population with moderate exposure to asbestos, lung function tests can discriminate smokers and nonsmokers and exposure to different kinds of asbestos, whereas discrepancies among groups with different lengths of exposure are better seen with radiographic methods.