AN EARLY STUDY OF PULMONARY ASBESTOSIS AMONG MANUFACTURING WORKERS - ORIGINAL DATA AND RECONSTRUCTION OF THE 1932 COHORT

A cross-sectional prevalence survey of asbestosis, including all 1,140 employees of a diversified asbestos products manufacturer, was conduc ted in 1932 by Drs. Anthony J. Lanza and Frank V. Meriwether: Occupati onal histories were obtained from workers in order to identify job tas ks 1 vith exposure to asbestos ann other fibrogenic dusts. Abbreviated medical histories, physical examinations, fluoroscopy and chest radio graphs were performed. Radiographs were interpreted according to appli cable criteria for pneumoconiosis, the presence of which was confirmed in 327 subjects (29%). Among those, 64% had previous exposure to dust s in addition to asbestos, coal being the leading non-asbestos exposur e. Thirty-six percent of cases had prior exposure only to asbestos dus t. The original conclusions do not survive. Contemporaneous related do cuments suggest that the original authors believed asbestosis to be a milder-form of lung disease than silicosis. It was subsequently recomm ended that the company institute pre-employment physicals, including c hest radiographs; not hire people with prior coal-dust exposure; warn workers against excessive exposure to asbestos dust remove those with disease to less dusty areas; and begin periodic medical surveillance f or pneumoconiosis. The study, which has never appeared in the medical or scientific literature, holds important lessons for those concerned with occupational health today and in the future. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.