[Implementation of the Amiantus project involving prophylactic medical examinations of the former employees of asbestos processing plants]. / Realizacja programu badan profilaktycznych pracowników bylych zakladów przetwórstwa azbestu "Amiantus".

BACKGROUND: Based on a 11-year implementation of the Amiantus Project, this paper reports the results of prophylactic medical examinations of the former workers of asbestos processing plants. The Project involving employees of 28 former asbestos plants was started by the Ministry of Health in 2000 under the Act on the ban of all products containing asbestos. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Preventive examinations, continued in 13 centers of occupational medicine throughout the whole territory of Poland, have been coordinated by the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lodz (NIOM). During the examinations, a specific Examination Form is filled-in by a physician. The Form is then sent to NIOM for monitoring health effects in the population covered by the Project. The results obtained by analyzing the lung radiological images are recorded in the Examination Form according to the ILO 1980 classification of pneumoconiosis. The diagnosis of the asbestos-related pathologies is based on the Helsinki criteria. RESULTS: During the years 2000-2010, altogether 6,853 people were involved in the Project, and they were subjected to a total of 18,955 preventive examinations. Asbestosis was diagnosed in 1475 people, representing 21% of all respondents, lung cancer in 68 and mesothelioma in 40 people. Pleural radiographic changes were observed in 3027 (44%) patients, pulmonary parenchymal opacities in 4086 (60%) patients. The analysis showed that the asbestos-related pathologies were most frequent in the group of former employees of asbestos-cement plants. This group was also characterized by an age-, tenure-, and latency-related increasing trend in the prevalence of silicosis and the frequency of radiographic lesions in the lungs of those subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The continuation of the examinations of former workers of asbestos processing industry has improved the detection of pathologies associated with exposure to asbestos and enabled undertaking an appropriate preventive action. The growing percentage of poorer radiography results reflects the progressive development of pathological processes in the respiratory system of people occupationally exposed to asbestos dust in the past.

[Prophylactic examinations of workers formerly employed in asbestos processing plants: outcome of the Amiantus project in 2000-2004]. / Badania profilaktyczne bylych pracowników zakladów przetwórstwa azbestu--wyniki realizacji programu Amiantus w latach 2000-2004.

BACKGROUND: Prophylactic examinations of workers formerly employed in asbestos processing plants were performed by virtue of the Act, dated 19 June 1997, putting a ban on the production of asbestos-containing products. To enforce the provisions of the Act, the Ministry of Health has initiated the Amiantus project implemented by 13 Occupational Medicine Centers throughout the country and coordinated by the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine (IMP) in Lódz. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All the Centers perform diagnostic procedures according to the same criteria (clinical, radiological, spirometric and histological), based on the 1997 Helsinki criteria, to diagnose asbestos-related diseases. A specific "Examination Form", developed for the needs of the Amiantus project, is completed by an occupational physician during examinations and sent to the IMP, where health effects in the whole population covered by the project are monitored. Periodical medical examinations are performed at least every three years and they include: general examination, chest x-ray, resting spirometric examination and supplementary examinations (e.g., resting gasometric examination) or other diagnostic examinations if necessary (e.g., computed tomography). RESULTS: Owing to the project implementation, it was possible to collect in the database information on 5466 persons who underwent 8763 prophylactic examinations in 2000-2004. Of the total population examined during a five-year period, occupational disease was certified in 728 (13%) persons. Asbestosis was diagnosed in 790 persons, lung cancer in 19 persons and pleural mesothelioma in 12 persons. Pleural changes in x-ray imaging were found in 1662 (30%) persons and opacities in pulmonary parenchyma in 2088 (38%) persons. Having compared these results with those from previous examinations, the total health condition deterioration was observed in 882 (16%) persons, including worsening of the lung x-ray imaging in 512 (9%) persons. An analysis showed the highest incidence of asbestos-related pathologies in workers of asbestos-cement plants. The collected data also confirmed an upward trend in the incidence of asbestosis and changes in the lung x-ray imaging related to age, duration of employment and latency. CONCLUSION: The implementation of the Amiantus project has contributed to an increased detection of pathologies related with exposure to asbestos fibers. A growing proportion of radiograms, which indicate worsening of health condition provides evidence that morbid processes in the respiratory system are progressing in persons who in the past were occupationally exposed to asbestos dust.