[Surveillance of ventilation functions in collectives occupationally exposed to the risk of COPD]

Abstract

The paper presents the clinical-functional manifestations in a group of 321 workers in a carbide department of a chemical combine works, professionally exposed to powders (calcium oxide, coke dust) and irritant gases (sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides and ozone). Data processing, recorded on a questionnaire recommended by BMRC showed an incidence of 6.8% for simple chronic bronchitis, 14% for COPD and 39.8% for the disease of the small airways. The authors support the idea of the increased efficiency of the MEF50 test in comparison with MEVS for functional surveillance and early detection of broncho-obstructive ventilatory disturbances. In agreement with other dynamical observations of the authors the subjects found to suffer from simple chronic bronchitis have, in fact, obstruction, detectable by the MEF50 test.