Abstract
BackgroundA method of individually assessing former exposure to asbestos fibres is a precondition of risk-differentiated health surveillance. The main aims of our study were to assess former levels of airborne asbestos exposure in the power industry in Germany and to propose a basic strategy for health surveillance and the early detection of asbestos related diseases.MethodsBetween March 2002 and the end of 2006, we conducted a retrospective questionnaire based survey of occupational tasks and exposures with airborne asbestos fibres in a cohort of 8632 formerly asbestos exposed power industry workers. The data on exposure and occupation were entered into a specially designed computer programme, based on ambient monitoring of airborne asbestos fibre concentrations. The cumulative asbestos exposure was expressed as the product of the eight-hour time weighted average and the total duration of exposure in fibre years (fibres/cubic centimetre-years).ResultsData of 7775 (90% of the total) participants working in installations for power generation, power distribution or gas supply could be evaluated. The power generation group (n = 5284) had a mean age of 56 years, were exposed for 20 years and had an average cumulative asbestos exposure of 42 fibre years. The occupational group of "metalworkers" (n = 1600) had the highest mean value of 79 fibre years. The corresponding results for the power distribution group (n = 2491) were a mean age of 45 years, a mean exposure duration of 12 years and an average cumulative asbestos exposure of only 2.5 fibre years. The gas supply workers (n = 512) had a mean age of 54 years and a mean duration of exposure of 15 years.ConclusionsWhile the surveyed cohort as a whole was heavily exposed to asbestos dust, the power distribution group had a mean cumulative exposure of only 6% of that found in the power generation group. Based on the presented data, risk-differentiated disease surveillance focusing on metalworkers and electricians from the power generating industry seems justified. That combined with a sensitive examination technique would allow detecting asbestos related diseases early and efficiently.
Highlights
A method of individually assessing former exposure to asbestos fibres is a precondition of riskdifferentiated health surveillance
The 512 gas supply workers (6% of the total) had a similar mean age of 54 years, but their mean period of asbestos exposure was with 15 years closer to the power distribution group
As job titles used by the company medical officers for registration were the same for all participants, exposure assessments could still be compared based on occupational exposure groups
Summary
A method of individually assessing former exposure to asbestos fibres is a precondition of riskdifferentiated health surveillance. The main aims of our study were to assess former levels of airborne asbestos exposure in the power industry in Germany and to propose a basic strategy for health surveillance and the early detection of asbestos related diseases. Asbestos dust is a serious health hazard leading to diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma of the pleura. The silent period of several years or decades, known as the latency period of asbestos disease, creates a specific problem when planning health surveillance programmes based on risk of disease. Some regulations for the reduction of asbestos dust had already been applied from the mid
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