[Chronic bronchitis in a fire-proof material plant].

The prevalence of chronic bronchitis has been evaluated in a group of refractory material workers. Diagnosis was made on the basis of symptoms, signs and functional and radiologic evidence of the typical changes of the disease. The relationship with age, length of working activity and cigarette smoking habit were also investigated. It can be concluded that, in the examined people, chronic bronchitis was better attributable to the working exposure to dust, than to the age or smoking habit.