X-ray findings, lung function, and respiratory symptoms in black South African vermiculite workers

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Am. J. Ind. Med.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700150104· OSTI ID:6071199

Hessel, P A; Sluis-Cremer, G K

Health effects have been documented among American vermiculite workers who mined and processed vermiculite contaminated with amphibole asbestos, viz., tremolite-actinolite. Workers mining and processing South Africa vermiculite (N = 172), which contains very little asbestos, underwent x-ray examination and lung function testing and completed a respiratory symptom questionnaire. The vermiculite workers were compared with other workers involved in the mining or refining of copper. Only two of the vermiculite workers showed evidence of small opacities of 1/0 or more (according to the ILO 1980 classification); lung function was comparable with the other groups of workers, and there was no excess of respiratory symptoms among the vermiculite workers. It is concluded that workers exposed to vermiculite that is minimally contaminated with asbestos are probably not at risk for pneumoconiosis, lung function impairment, or respiratory symptoms. It is likely that the health effects observed in other studies of vermiculite workers are the result of concomitant asbestos exposure. A risk of mesothelioma caused by the fiber content of the vermiculite cannot be excluded by this study.

• Research Organization: Epidemiology Research Unit, Johannesburg (South Africa)
• OSTI ID: 6071199
• Journal Information: Am. J. Ind. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Ind. Med.; (United States) Vol. 15:1; ISSN AJIMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550602 -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Diagnostics-- (1980-)
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AFRICA
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM SILICATES
ASBESTOS
BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
BODY
CONTAMINATION
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
DYNAMIC FUNCTION STUDIES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INORGANIC ION EXCHANGERS
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON SILICATES
LUNGS
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MAGNESIUM SILICATES
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
MICA
MINERALS
MINING
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERSONNEL
PNEUMOCONIOSES
RADIATIONS
RADIOLOGY
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SILICATE MINERALS
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SOUTH AFRICA
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
VERMICULITE
X RADIATION