Lung function in different types of pneumoconiosis.

The results of pulmonary function tests in patients with silicosis, pneumoconiosis in coal miners and arc welders, asbestosis, as well as in persons exposed to asbestos without abnormal x-ray findings of the chest, and in nonexposed healthy control persons and the development after 6 years are compared between each other and with the x-ray findings. There are significant differences between the several groups. There is no correlation (parallelism) between increase of lung function impairment and progression of x-ray findings.