In the county of Uppsala, Sweden, all detected cases of pleural plaques have been investigated with reference to asbestos exposure. Up to June, 1981, the number of men found to have pleural plaques was 1030 and the number of women, 42. A disproportionately high percentage, especially of the women and the younger men, were born in Finland. Also, the Finnish-born had been exposed to asbestos to a significantly lower degree. They came from all parts of Finland - not only from the area where anthophyllite asbestos is found and where endemic plaques are common. Thus, some other factor must have caused these plaques among the Finns.

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male Pleural Diseases major clinical study Aged female environmental exposure Sweden Emigration and Immigration Finland adult asbestos Respiratory System pleura plaque diagnosis human epidemiology Middle Age Adolescent