[The relevance of chest X-rays and respiratory function tests to the assessment of occupational hazards in asbestos factory workers (author's transl)].

The authors have analyzed the medico-legal records of 70 workers from an asbestos factory, who developed pneumoconiosis, sometimes after prolonged exposure. X-ray films were interpreted (though not without some difficulty) according to the I.L.O. classification criteria. Respiratory function tests included spirometry, gas exchange determination and blood gas measurements. There was a correlation between the duration of occupational exposure and the onset of chest lesions visible on X-ray films (pleural thickening, pulmonary fibrosis and later, pleural calcifications) and a closer correlation between these and the results of the two main respiratory function tests: vital capacity and fractional global and arterio-alveolar CO uptake coefficient (DuaCO). It appeared, however, that lung function impairment sometimes preceded radiological abnormalities, and this should be taken into consideration when assessing the financial compensation due to workers exposed to asbestos.