Prevalence of asbestos-related disease among electrical power generation workers in Puerto Rico

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of asbestos-related disease among senior-active and retired workers in the electrical power plants in Puerto Rico. Methods: Letters of invitation were sent to employees who began working in power plants at least 15 years earlier. Examinations were performed over a period of twenty days in 2003. Interviewers obtained work and exposure histories. Medical histories were collected and physical examinations were performed by trained physicians. Spirometries were performed utilizing ATS guidelines. Chest radiographs were interpreted by a B-reader using the ILO-1980 system. Clinical findings were compared using the chi-square distribution. Results: A total of 1,162 workers (93%) completed all aspects of the study, 56% of which were current employees. Almost all (95%) of the participants were males. The mean age of participants was 54.2 ± 9.6 years. Prevalence of chest x-ray abnormalities consistent with asbestos-related scarring was 13% among participants with 25 or more years from onset. Thirty percent gave a history of asbestos exposure prior to power plant employment. Only 11% of the study participants were current smokers. A high prevalence (46%) of restrictive abnormality was found. Shortness of breath was commonly reported by examinees (23%). High rates of obesity were found in the study population (42%). Conclusions: Power plant workers in Puerto Rico are at risk for asbestos-related disease. Medical monitoring of those with a history of exposure to asbestos is warranted. PFTs findings should be investigated with full lung function studies. Interventions to encourage weight reduction and increased routine exercise should be done.