What is the primary purpose of a chest X-ray for asbestos workers?

The primary purpose of a chest X-ray for asbestos workers is to detect irregularities in the lungs and heart. Asbestos exposure can lead to serious health conditions, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and pleural disease. Regular chest X-rays are crucial for monitoring the lungs, as they can reveal signs of these conditions early on, allowing for timely intervention. The imaging can show changes in the lung tissue that may indicate the presence of asbestos-related diseases, which may not yet present any symptoms. This is particularly important for workers who may be at higher risk due to their occupational exposure to asbestos.

Other options do not directly relate to the specific risks associated with asbestos exposure; diagnosing asthma is not the focus of chest X-rays in this context, as they do not effectively show asthma-related problems. Similarly, identifying injuries from accidents or determining body mass index are not relevant purposes of chest X-rays for asbestos workers, as these functions serve different medical assessments not focused on the long-term monitoring of lung health in the context of asbestos exposure.