Radiographic Changes in Colombian Asbestos Factory Workers

BACKGROUND: Until recently, Colombia has been a country actively using asbestos. A major factory in Bogota manufactures friction products. OBJECTIVE: To determine if the use of chrysotile asbestos in a friction products facility leads to workers developing disease. METHODS: One hundred forty-eight factory workers, former workers, or retirees volunteered for X-ray and pulmonary function testing after informed consent. X-rays were read by two readers who needed to agree on positive findings. RESULTS: Nineteen of the 148 X-rays had changes consistent with the known prior exposure to asbestos, mostly parenchymal in nature. Pulmonary function was not altered in most of the studied population. CONCLUSION: Asbestos disease is clearly present among Colombian asbestos factory workers, as is seen in other exposed populations around the world.