Roentgenographic evidence of asbestos exposure in a select population of railroad workers

A volunteer population of 266 current and former railroad workers was examined with posteroanterior and oblique chest roentgenograms, and a comprehensive occupational smoking history. Seventy-five percent of participants were over the age of 60, and 80% had fewer than 10 years of railroad-related asbestos exposure. Roentgenographic evidence of asbestosis was found in only six workers (2%), whereas 20% had one or more pleural changes. Radiological abnormalities were related to latency period, age, and occupation, but not to smoking habit. While selection factors qualify the results of this study, the findings support the exposure and suggest a past and future history of asbestos mortality and morbidity among steam era railway workers.