[Degree of ventilation disturbances in persons with occupational exposure to manganese].

In workers chronically exposed to manganese who showed spirometric abnormalities, an evaluation was done of the degree of ventilation disturbances in relation to age, duration of work, cigarette smoking, and the presence of chronic bronchitis. It was shown that of greatest influence on the loss of ventilation efficacy was cigarette smoking, and, in a lower degree, age. Chronic bronchitis however, caused no greater impairment of ventilation efficacy. Duration of work remained almost without influence on the degree of ventilation impairment.