Summary
The prevalence of respiratory symptoms (by standard questionnaire) and the impairment of ventilatory function (vital capacity and FEV1-O with a bellows spirograph) were investigated in a group of 173 shipyard welders (with more than 5 years experience) in respect to length of exposure and roentgenologic picture. A group of 100 nonwelding shipyard workers served as controls for the prevalence of symptoms. Chronic cough (22%), chronic bronchitis (20%), dyspnea (20%) and wheezing (16%) were more frequent among welders; the difference was significant for the last 2 symptoms only. In contrast, objective (physical) signs were present in equal proportion (14–12%) in both groups. A ventilatory function defect (mostly of the restrictive type) was found in 20% of the welders. The mean FEV1-0 was significantly decreased in welders with more than 10 years exposure (P<L0.02), in those with dyspnea grade III or more, and in those with a history of wheezing or asthma (P<0.01).
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Barhad, B., Teculescu, D. & Crăciun, O. Respiratory symptoms, chronic bronchitis, and ventilatory function in shipyard welders. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 36, 137–150 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01262318
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01262318