Document QMvzN1bbJ6NkXgX2dvLoYze6E
ASBESTOSIS--PART III.--The Effects of Exposure to Dust Encountered in Asbestos Fabricating Plants on the Health of a Group of Workers.
Complete physical examinations were made of sixty-four persons (48 men, 16 women) employed at the time in the plants listed in Part II of this report. Of this number seven men without previous exposure were used as controls. Selection of the workers was re stricted to those employed in textile manufacture. Those workers longest employed were chosen because the ^necessity of including a sufficient number from this group is evident. Attention was also paid to the group with exposures of shorter duration and to the particular operation at which the worker was employed. Table VIII shows their age distribution.
TABLE VIU. DISTRIBUTION BT AGE OP ALL PERSONS EXAMINED
Group
! Number of ! Persons ; Examined | Under 30
Number in Age Group
so-
40-40 j 50-59 GO and over
Controls --___ ------
7
1
t
!1
3
Asbestosis _______________
It
--
7
-
1
<n *
Negstlre -----------------------
43
IS
13
11
3
3
1
Totsts __ ____ ______ __
64
10
a
17 |
4
Asbestosis was found in fourteen persons (12 men, 2 women),
or 25 per cent of the exposed group. Forty persons were diagnosed ` as negative and the remaining three doubtful. Of the latter group,
one individual had previous exposure to silica dust which may have been the primary or contributing cause and, as a result, has been eliminated from any further consideration. The cases having as
bestosis were divided into those having slight and moderate pul monary fibrosis, no advanced cases having been found. The esti
mation of the degree of involvment depended on the amount .and extent of fibrosis seen roentgenologically and in the clinical find
ings.
..
The present, past, and family medical, and previous occupational
histories were secured from each worker. Direct questions, which might influence the individual's replies in regard to his subjective
symptoms, were avoided in obtaining chief complaints. The pre
dominating subjective symptoms in the positive group were cough and dyspnea. Other major subjective symptoms were dry throat and frequent colds. One individual in this group had no subjective symptoms.
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