Does Asbestos Exposure Cause Airway Obstruction, in the Absence of Confirmed Asbestosis?

Rationale: Whether occupational exposure to asbestos causes airway obstruction remains controversial.Objectives: This study evaluated lung function in relation to cumulative exposure to asbestos in a large cohort of retired or unemployed workers exposed to asbestos.Methods: The study population consisted of 3,660 volunteer subjects. An individual cumulative exposure index to asbestos was calculated for each subject, and information was obtained on smoking status. Pulmonary function tests were performed in all subjects; high-resolution chest computed tomography was also performed in 3,335 subjects.Measurements and Main Results: Values of FEV1/FVC and FEF25–75% did not differ between five classes (quintiles) of cumulative exposure to asbestos, and no significant correlation was observed between cumulative exposure to asbestos and pulmonary function parameters, after adjustment for sex, tobacco consumption, emphysema, and body mass index. Furthermore, the proportion of abnormal pulmonary function tests did n...