Lung Volume Standards For Healthy Male Lifetime Non-Smokers - (1988)

Lung Volume Standards for Healthy Male Lifetime Nonsmokers: A Legal Perspective on Asbestos-Related Claims

Abstract The study "Lung Volume Standards for Healthy Male Lifetime Nonsmokers" by R.T. Withers, R.C. Bourdon, and A. Crockett, published in CHEST, establishes baseline lung volume measurements for healthy male nonsmokers aged 18.9 to 78.6 years. Using multiple breath helium dilution techniques, the researchers measured functional residual capacity (FRC), residual volume (RV), vital capacity (VC), and total lung capacity (TLC) in 162 men. The study provides regression equations to predict lung volumes based on physical characteristics such as age, height, and chest girth. These findings offer a reliable standard for evaluating lung function in clinical and occupational health settings, particularly for individuals exposed to harmful substances like asbestos.

Legal Relevance This study is a critical resource for asbestos-related legal claims, as it provides objective lung volume standards for healthy individuals. By excluding confounding factors such as smoking or pre-existing respiratory conditions, the study ensures that deviations from these norms can be more directly linked to asbestos exposure. In legal cases, this data can:

• Support Evidence Pathways: Demonstrate lung function impairment in individuals with asbestos-related diseases by comparing their lung volumes to the study's standards.
• Reinforce Occupational History: Highlight the role of asbestos exposure in causing lung damage, particularly in individuals with no history of smoking or other risk factors.
• Counter Defense Claims: Address common arguments that smoking or unrelated health issues caused the plaintiff's condition, using the study's nonsmoker-specific data as a baseline.

Occupation Groups at Risk Certain occupations are at higher risk of asbestos exposure, making the study's findings particularly relevant for these groups:

• Construction Workers: Frequently exposed to asbestos in insulation, roofing, and cement products.
• Shipyard Workers: Historically exposed to asbestos in shipbuilding materials.
• Industrial Workers: Encountered asbestos in manufacturing, particularly in textiles, gaskets, and brake linings.
• Firefighters: Risk exposure during building demolitions or fires involving asbestos-containing materials.
• Plumbers and Electricians: Often worked in environments with asbestos-insulated pipes and wiring. These groups can use the study's lung volume standards to demonstrate occupational exposure-related impairments.

Current Medical Understanding The study aligns with current medical knowledge by providing accurate lung volume standards for healthy individuals. Its use of multiple breath helium dilution techniques remains a valid method for assessing lung function. However, advancements in imaging and broader population studies may further refine these standards. The study's exclusion of smokers and individuals with pre-existing conditions enhances its applicability in asbestos-related cases, where isolating the effects of asbestos exposure is critical.

Citation Withers, R.T., Bourdon, R.C., & Crockett, A. (1982). Lung Volume Standards for Healthy Male Lifetime Nonsmokers. CHEST, 82(3), 351-356. doi: 10.1378/chest.82.3.351.

National Library of Medicine Link For additional context, the study can be accessed via the National Library of Medicine: Lung Volume Standards for Healthy Male Lifetime Nonsmokers.

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