Chest radiography in dockworkers

Dockers are occupationally exposed to respirable particles derived from organic dust, inorganic dust and/or diesel combustion particles.

To analyse chest radiological findings in a group of dockworkers and the influencing factors.

Descriptive study of dockers in a port whose main activity is loading and unloading sand. Applying the specific Health Surveillance Protocol for exposure to silicosis, chest X-rays were taken in situ with a mobile unit. Radiographic data taken between 2016 and 2023 are included. The interpretation of the images was performed according to the ILO Guidelines, by radiologists with expertise in this technique.

Of the 268 workers (258 men and 10 women), with a median age of 40 years and an average length of service of 16 years, 43% were smokers and 18% were ex-smokers. Chest radiological abnormalities were observed in 22 workers (8.2%), all males. There were no cases of silicosis. Profusion 1/0 was observed in 5 workers (all smokers, in 4 the profusion changed from 0/1 in 2019 to 1/0 in 2023 and in 1 it was detected in the initial health examination) and in 6 the profusion was 0/1. The rest of the alterations are findings in soft tissue, skeleton or residual pleuroparenchymal lesions.

The absence of established silicosis indicates that the preventive measures carried out in this group are effective. Of the relevant radiological findings, two are possible tumours and in cases of progression of images suggestive of pneumoconiosis, all of them are smokers. It is necessary to insist on anti-smoking campaigns among workers.