RESUMO
PURPOSE: To examine the effect of knowledge of radiographic abnormalities on the mental health of asbestos-exposed people with and without pleural abnormalities. METHODS: Subjects were former asbestos mine and mill workers and residents of the mining town who had participated in an annual health review program. Pleural abnormalities (pleural plaques, diffuse pleural thickening and asbestosis) were determined from plain chest X-rays. All Participants completed a questionnaire on mental health status (SF-12) and locus of control (LOC). RESULTS: There were no significant differences between asbestos-exposed people with and without radiographic abnormalities for either the SF-12 mental health score or LOC. However, the asbestos-exposed cohorts had lower mental health scores compared with a random sample of the local population. CONCLUSION: The presence of pleural abnormalities did not further affect the mental health of asbestos-exposed people beyond a decrement associated with exposure per se.
Assuntos
Amianto/efeitos adversos , Saúde Mental/estatística & dados numéricos , Doenças Profissionais/psicologia , Exposição Ocupacional/efeitos adversos , Doenças Pleurais/psicologia , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Feminino , Humanos , Controle Interno-Externo , Modelos Lineares , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Mineração , Doenças Profissionais/induzido quimicamente , Doenças Profissionais/epidemiologia , Exposição Ocupacional/estatística & dados numéricos , Doenças Pleurais/diagnóstico por imagem , Radiografia , Estresse Psicológico/epidemiologia , Austrália Ocidental/epidemiologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: There are few data on the long-term health outcomes of exposure to asbestos in childhood. This study investigated cancer and mortality of adults exposed to blue asbestos as children. METHODS: Data linkage to relevant health registries was used to identify cancers and mortality in a cohort of adults (n = 2,460) that had lived in an asbestos mining town during their childhood (<15 years). RESULTS: There were 217 (93 female) incident cancers and 218 (70 female) deaths among the cohort. Compared with the Western Australian population females had elevated mesothelioma, ovarian and brain cancers, and increased "all cause" and "all cancer" mortality. Males had elevated mesothelioma, leukemia, prostate, brain, and colorectal cancers, and excess mortality from "all causes," "all cancers," circulatory disease, diseases of the nervous system, and accidents. CONCLUSION: Exposure to blue asbestos in childhood is associated with an increased risk of cancer and mortality in adults.
