Occupational Medicine 2012;62:261–265 doi:10.1093/occmed/kqs042
CT findings related to exposure to polyvinyl chloride H. Süyür1, O. Elbek2, N. Bayram1, N. Aydın3, A. Özkur4, N. Gündog˘du1 and I˙. Akkurt5 Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey, 2Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey, 3Department of Public Health, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey, 4Department of Radiodiagnostics, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey, 5Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey. 1
Correspondence to: O. Elbek, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey. Fax: +90 256 2129680; e-mail:
[email protected] Background Although some adverse health effects of exposure to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are well known, there is limited evidence of its effects on the respiratory system. Aims
To assess the pulmonary effects of exposure to PVC with high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT).
Methods
Workers and administrative staff of two PVC production plants completed questionnaires and went through pulmonary function testing and HRCT. Analysis of PVC dust in the work environment was performed by the Directorate of Occupational Health and Safety.
Results
In total, 104 PVC-exposed workers and 43 administrative controls participated. HRCT revealed pleural and/or parenchymal changes in 55% of the exposed subjects. Pleural thickening was d etected in 14 subjects, 13 of whom were in the exposed group (P < 0.05). Isolated pleural thickening without parenchymal involvement was present in seven workers, who were all in the exposed group (P
