Original scientific paper
Pneumoconiosis caused by hard metal dust
S. Milković-Kraus
; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska
A. Bogadi
; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
A group of 108 workers with exposure to hard metal dust exceeding the threshold limit value were medically examined. Lung function tests (FVC, FEV1, PEF, FEF50, FEF25) showed no restrictive changes. In 52% of the workers there was a reduction in forced expiratory flow at 25% of vital capacity and tin 8% diffusion capacity for CO was diminished. Expiratory flow at 25% of vital capacity was reduced in 43% of non-smokers and ,in 58% of smokers.
According to lung X-rays, which were classified according to ILO classification, interstitial changes were found in 13.8% of the workers. Among these three workers had changes classified as 1/1. all of them smokers who had been exposed to hard metal dust for a period of 20 years. In the others slight changes classified as 1/0 and 0/1 were present. It is therefore believed that for early detection of pathological changes in the interstitium in persons exposed to hard metal dust functional tests and diffusion capacity for CO are of major importance as they may serve to determine obstruction on the small airways earlier than X-rays.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
153233
URI
Publication date:
18.1.1988.
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