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Production of asbestos‐cement products in Brazil started in the 1940s, peaked in the 60–70s and is still an active industry. This study was designed to assess the non‐malignant effects of asbestos exposure in the asbestos‐cement industry in Brazil.

A group of 828 former asbestos‐cement workers enrolled in a cross‐sectional and cohort study of respiratory morbidity, submitted to a detailed occupational history, respiratory symptoms questionnaire, spirometry, PA chest x‐ray, and high resolution computed chest tomography (HRCT). Asbestos exposure was assessed by years of exposure, cumulative exposure (a semi‐quantitative method), and latency time from first exposure. Asbestosis and pleural thickening were assessed according to HRCT criteria.

Asbestosis was present in 74 (8.9%) and pleural thickening in 246 (29.7%). Using the HRCT as the “best available evidence”, it …