Environmental asbestos exposure and nonmalignant pleural findings: a retrospective evaluation of a five-year chest CT repository

Sandal A., Ecin S. M., Koyuncu A., DURHAN G., GÜLSÜN AKPINAR M., DEMİR A. U., ...More

ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH, vol.77, no.9, pp.734-743, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 77 Issue: 9
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/19338244.2021.2004987
  • Journal Name: ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, Environment Index, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.734-743
  • Keywords: Asbestos, environment, environmental exposure, PLAQUES, MESOTHELIOMA, WORKERS, DIAGNOSIS, EXPOSOME, PREVALENCE, MANAGEMENT, SOUTHEAST, DISEASES, CANCER
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This registry-based case-control study aimed to assess the association between asbestos deposits in the birthplace and/or residence and nonmalignant pleural findings, namely pleural plaques (PPs) and pleural thickening (PT), on chest CT scans. In total, 39,472 CT scans obtained over five years in a tertiary referral hospital in Ankara, Turkey, were evaluated. Cases involving patients with PP (n = 537), PT (n = 263), PP&PT (n = 69), and controls (n = 543) from the same study base without those conditions were included. Each case group was compared to controls using unconditional logistic regression. The presence of asbestos deposits in the district of birthplace (adjusted OR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.35-3.37) and both birthplace and residence (aOR = 4.32, 95% CI: 2.26-8.27) was significantly related to the PPs. As the importance of environmental asbestos exposure in Turkey continues, future prospective studies could contribute to developing screening strategies.