[Longitudinal study of colophony exposed workers and control probands].

267 solderers and 239 controls from a cross-sectional study were reexamined after a five-year period. Thereby the correlation between prevalences of respiratory symptoms and work-place concentrations of solder flux fume was confirmed. The follow-up of lung function revealed a higher influence of smoking habits compared to occupational exposures. The MBTH-method is suitable for estimation of exposure, if smoking and other aldehyde sources are excluded.