Radiological changes in asbestos-exposed Iraqi workers

ABSTRACT

The ILO International Classification of Radio-graphs of pneumoconiosis was used for the first time in Iraq to screen the workers of the asbestos factory in Baghdad. A total of 451 workers were chest x-rayed and the result showed that quite a large number [33%] have shown pleural thickening and 21% Were found to have bilateral irregular small opacities in the lung parenchyma.The presence of rounded small opacities was found in only 7% of workers. The presence of pleural thickening and rounded small opacities was significantly associated with increasing dust index [P <0.005 and P <0.001 respectively]. On the other hand irregular small opacities were prevalent even in the low dust index groups. About 52% d workers with pleural thickening had, in addition, irregular and/or rounded small opacities in the chest x-ray. Workers suffering from rounded small opacities, irregular small opacities, and pleura thickening were found to have higher risks to development such changes as the duration their occupational exposure increases[odd ratios with their 95% confidence intervals were 2.95 [2.19-3.96], 2.96[2.64-3.3],and 6 [5.64-6.75] respectively]