Asbestos-associated lung effects in car mechanics

Our plain-English summary of Asbestos-associated lung effects in car mechanics, by K. Marcus, B.G. Järvholm, S. Larsson (Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 1987).

The study

• Authors: K. Marcus, B.G. Järvholm, S. Larsson
• Journal: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
• Published: 1987;13(3):252-4
• Cited by: 16 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher
• In J-M's library: Johns-Manville's company medical library held a copy (J-M no. 000984).

Abstract

In a study of the possible impact of asbestos exposure on car mechanics, 925 car mechanics and 109 referents (office workers in car-repair firms) were examined. They took part in a health screening in 1977-1981. The forced expiratory volumes in 1 s and the forced vital capacities of the car mechanics were close to the predicted values and did not differ from the findings of the referents. Pleural plaques were found in 41 of the mechanics but in none of the referents. Only minor changes were detected in the chest radiographs ie, 1/1 or less according to the ILO-U/C classification. It is concluded that asbestos exposure can generally cause pleural plaques in car mechanics but no substantial impairment of lung function.

In plain English

This cross-sectional study examined whether asbestos exposure during car repair affected the lungs of car mechanics in Göteborg, Sweden. It analyzed a voluntary health screening of 925 male mechanics and 109 office workers from car-repair firms, whose asbestos exposure the authors called negligible; the article dates the screening 1977 to 1980 in its methods and 1977 to 1981 in its abstract. Breathing tests showed the mechanics' results close to 100% of predicted values and slightly better than the office workers'. Chest X-rays showed pleural plaques in 41 mechanics and no office workers. Plaques were more common with longer time since first exposure: 57% of mechanics with at least 40 years (35 men), 14% with 30 to 39 years (99 men) and 3% with 20 to 29 years (184 men). Of 24 mechanics sent for further tests, none had X-ray changes above 1/1 on the ILO-U/C scale and none was diagnosed with asbestosis. The authors concluded that this exposure may increase pleural plaques but generally does not substantially impair lung function. They noted that the cross-sectional design may have underestimated risks.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: cross-sectional analysis of health screening data (questionnaire, spirometry, chest radiographs), comparing mechanics with office workers
• Who was studied: 925 male car mechanics and 109 male office workers in car-repair firms in Göteborg, Sweden, examined in a voluntary health screening. The methods say the examination was offered between 1977 and 1980; the abstract printed with the article says they took part in 1977 to 1981. The office workers' asbestos exposure was described as negligible.
• Exposure: asbestos in friction materials such as brake linings during car repair, with short peak exposures from clean blowing of brake drums and smoothing of brake linings; fiber type not specified; analysis stratified by time since onset of exposure
• Main results:
  • Mechanics' FEV1 and FVC were close to 100% of predicted values. Their lung function showed no changes compared with the office workers; the mechanics had slightly better values.
  • A multivariate analysis on smoking, age and latency time did not indicate that impaired respiratory function was associated with latency time.
  • Pleural plaques were found in 41 of the 925 mechanics and in none of the 109 office workers.
  • Among mechanics, plaque frequency rose with time since onset of exposure: 57% with at least 40 years (N = 35), 14% with 30 to 39 years (N = 99), 3% with 20 to 29 years (N = 184).
  • Of 24 mechanics referred for further examination, none had radiographic profusions of more than 1/1 (ILO-U/C), and no diagnosis of asbestosis was made. Transbronchial lung biopsies were taken in two cases and both were normal.
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that the asbestos exposure generally experienced by car mechanics may lead to an increased incidence of pleural plaques but does not generally lead to substantial impairment of respiratory function.
• Limitations the authors state:
  • The cross-sectional design may have led to underestimated risks.
  • The response rate to the screening is not exactly known (estimated by the authors to cover more than 90% of mechanics).
  • The authors acknowledged that more sophisticated tests might have revealed impairment of respiratory function.

Topics

The National Library of Medicine indexes this study under subjects our site covers: Asbestosis, Auto mechanics and brake work, Pleural plaques and thickening.

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Asbestos Exposure, Pleural Plaques, Chest X-Ray.

Related studies

• Asbestos-related diseases in automobile mechanics — J. Ameille, N. Rosenberg, et al. (2012)
• Mesothelioma among car mechanics? — H.J. Woitowitz, K. Rödelsperger (1994)
• Lung function and exposure to asbestos among vehicle mechanics — M. Dahlqvist, R. Alexandersson, et al. (1992)
• Mortality of auto mechanics. A ten-year follow-up — E.S. Hansen (1989)
• Cumulative asbestos exposure for US automobile mechanics involved in brake repair (circa 1950s-2000) — B.L. Finley, R.O. Richter, et al. (2007)
• Lung cancer and mesothelioma among male automobile mechanics: a review — F. Laden, M.J. Stampfer, et al. (2004)

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