Cytologic changes of the respiratory tract in vineyard spraying workers.

A cytologic investigation of sputum samples, obtained from rural workers engaged for years in spraying of vines, was performed in comparison to that of inhabitants of the same environment who were not vineyard workers. The subjects were grouped according to their smoking habits. Sputum specimens were conventionally stained with hematoxylin and eosin and were also tested for copper by rubeanic acid. Macrophages containing copper-granules in the cytoplasm were found in 64% of the workers engaged in vine spraying, compared to none in the control group. Sputum specimens were evaluated in respect of eosinophils, respiratory spirals, respiratory cell atypia and squamous metaplasia. In both groups abnormal findings were more frequent in smokers than in nonsmokers. Atypical squamous metaplasia was observed in 29% of smokers who were vineyard workers.