Abstract
Background:Until recently, Colombia has been a country actively using asbestos. A major factory in Bogota manufactures friction products.Objective:To determine if the use of chrysotile asbestos in a friction products facility leads to workers developing disease.Methods:One hundred forty-eight factory workers, former workers, or retirees volunteered for X-ray and pulmonary function testing after informed consent. X-rays were read by two readers who needed to agree on positive findings.Results:Nineteen of the 148 X-rays had changes consistent with the known prior exposure to asbestos, mostly parenchymal in nature. Pulmonary function was not altered in most of the studied population.Conclusion:Asbestos disease is clearly present among Colombian asbestos factory workers, as is seen in other exposed populations around the world.
Highlights
The use of asbestos in any form in past use in thousands of products has been known to cause a variety of nonmalignant and malignant diseases [1]
Work histories were administered to all workers who consented to be examined. They were evaluated with PA and lateral chest X-rays and pulmonary function testing
There was no evidence in these workers of any lung cancers or mesotheliomas
Summary
The use of asbestos in any form in past use in thousands of products has been known to cause a variety of nonmalignant and malignant diseases [1]. More than 60 countries have banned the use of asbestos [2], including Colombia in 2019. As noted by the work of Takahashi [3], asbestos-related disease has been found in many countries of the world. Cement plants around the world using asbestos have been shown to cause disease among workers in Brazil, Canada, and Egypt, among other places [6, 7, 8]. Asbestos use in manufacturing and construction in many settings has been documented to cause disease [9]. Objective: To determine if the use of chrysotile asbestos in a friction products facility leads to workers developing disease. Conclusion: Asbestos disease is clearly present among Colombian asbestos factory workers, as is seen in other exposed populations around the world
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
