157812 Prevalence of asbestos-related disease among electrical power generation workers in Puerto Rico

Monday, November 5, 2007

Manuel Santiago-Cabrera, MPH , Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, Graduate School of Public Health, San Juan, PR
Rosa Pérez-Perdomo, MD, MPH, PhD , Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, Graduate School of Public Health, San Juan, PR
Jesús A. González-Gavillán, PhD, CIH , Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, Graduate School of Public Health, San Juan, PR
Olga D. Lorenzi-Peña, MS , Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, Graduate School of Public Health, San Juan, PR
Stephen M. Levin, MD , Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
Shuying Jiang, PhD , Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
Jaime Szeinuk, MD , Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
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.

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify the prevalence of asbestos-related disease among senior-active and retired workers in the electrical power plants in Puerto Rico. 2. Describe the health status of Puerto Rican workers who participated in the electrical power plants screening program. 3. Recognize the importance of occupational health issues in Puerto Rico. 4. Recognize the importance of periodic monitoring for early evidence of occupational related disease.

Keywords: Asbestos, Occupational Exposure

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.