[Bronchial hyperreactivity in chemical plant workers employed in the production of dust pesticides].

The staff of two chemical plant divisions producing dust pesticides, 131 employees exposed to dust containing 28-65% SiO2 at an average dust concentration of 4.8-5.2 mg/m3 were examined. In the first division (group I, 38 males and 35 females) captan, carbamates, dodine and chlorinated hydrocarbons active substances. In the second division (group II, 26 males and 32 females) the active substances included: carbamates, triazine compounds, cupric oxychloride, captan, lindane, carboxine. Chronic bronchitis was diagnosed in 51.5% of males and 14.9% of females, none had history of asthma. Spirography showed frequent occurrence of impaired maximal endexpiratory flow and elevated residual volume; in about a quarter of the examined subjects a decreased one-second forced expiratory volume was found. The rate of bronchial hyperreactivity to histamine in the examined workers (group I-9.6%, group II-10.3%) did not differ significantly from the control group of 31 healthy inhabitants of the region, professionally unexposed to dust and chemical noxes (6.5%).