Asbestos exposure and radiological abnormalities among maintenance and custodian workers in buildings with friable asbestos-containing materials.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Few studies have been carried out to evaluate the respiratory effects of asbestos exposure of custodian and maintenance workers. METHODS: By a multicentre cross-sectional study, 277 custodian and maintenance employees working in buildings with friable asbestos-containing materials and 87 unexposed subjects were studied for radiological abnormalities by use of the International Labour Office (ILO) classification of radiographs of pneumoconiosis, in relation to parameters of asbestos exposure. RESULTS: The cumulative asbestos exposure index was generally low (fewer than 5 fibres/ml x years in 82.3% of exposed workers). On multivariate analysis, pleural thickening was significantly related to latency since onset of exposure to asbestos in exposed workers, after adjustment for age, body mass index and tobacco smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Asbestos exposure of custodian and maintenance employees in buildings with friable asbestos-containing materials might be associated with an excess of pleural thickening on chest X-rays.