[Activity of bactericidal peripheral granulocytes in blood of workers employed in production of ferromanganese alloys].

We estimated bactericidal activity of peripheral blood neutrophils, using nitrotetrazolium blue reduction test (NBT), in metallurgists producing ferromanganese alloys. We didn't find essential changes in neutrophils metabolic activity in metallurgists comparing with the control group. Only spontaneous reduction index mean values were lower in metallurgists working over 10 years, and higher in metallurgists who smoked more cigarettes. Chronic bronchitis increased the index of stimulated reduction NBT.