Changes on radiographs of wives of workers exposed to asbestos

Between January and March 1986, 117 wives of insulation workers exposed to asbestos were screened by means of chest radiography, pulmonary function testing, and a detailed questionnaire. The final study group included 93 women over 40 years of age. Eighteen of these (19.4%) demonstrated pleural changes consistent with asbestos exposure, including pleural plaque (88.9%), diaphragm plaque (27.8%), pleural calcification (16.6%), and diffuse pleural thickening (5.5%). In statistical correlation between the groups with normal and abnormal radiographs, the only factor that proved significant was the year of first exposure (the duration of the latent period). Finally, radiographs of the husbands were compared for 17 of the 18 wives with radiographic abnormalities. Fourteen of the husbands (82%) demonstrated more severe radiographic changes than their wives.