Longitudinal changes in pulmonary function of asbestos workers.

OBJECTIVE To observe the longitudinal changes in pulmonary function associated with exposure to asbestos in a group of highly exposed workers. METHODS Pulmonary diffusing capacity (DLco) and spirometry of 243 Chinese asbestos workers were measured and remeasured after 5 and 10 yr. Their annual changes in relation to cumulative asbestos exposure and asbestosis were determined using multivariate analysis. RESULTS The greatest annual decline was observed in DLco, particularly in workers with asbestosis, followed by FVC and FEV(1). A greater decline in DLco accorded with a higher level of cumulative asbestos exposure. A similar trend was also seen in FVC, in which the highest exposure level was associated with 223 ml loss over each 5 yr period or 45 ml/yr. CONCLUSIONS There were substantial declines in DLco and FVC over time in the asbestos workers, and a dose-response trend between asbestos exposure and accelerating functional loss.