Pleural plaques and interstitial lung abnormalities in AGES-reykjavik study

Extract Iceland has a relatively high incidence of asbestos-related diseases, including malignant pleural mesothelioma, likely reflecting historical asbestos use in construction materials, ships, and geothermal heating systems [1, 2]. Pleural plaques represent the most common radiographic manifestation of asbestos exposure, and have been associated with an increased risks of mesothelioma [3]. Most prevalence data on pleural plaques come from occupational cohorts, with computed tomography (CT)-based studies reporting rates of 21–73% among highly exposed workers [3, 4], whereas reports in the general population are limited [5, 6].