[Pneumological findings in workers of chemistry and steel industry (author's transl)].

The pneumological examination of workers of the chemistry and steel industry revealed evident bronchopulmonary findings. The clinical and also the bronchoscopic findings are uncharacteristic. Chest X-ray shows interstitial and alveolar involvement, but in some cases it is normal. Lung function tests are valuable for early diagnosis, especially if both targets of the inhalative irritants, bronchus and alveolus, are respected. The essential loss of function concerns the gaseous interchange caused by bioptically demonstrated persisting, pneumoconiotic fibrosis. As a consequence of this findings in respect to diagnosis there has to be a more critical interpretation of chest X-ray, lung function tests including gaseous interchange analysis, perhaps also biopsy for correct interpretation of uncharacteristic complaints in the case of exposition, and finally also widening of the examinations in cooperation with the industry.