Epidemiology of chronic non-specific lung disease in a population exposed to Isocyanate. I° Analysis of Symptoms

Abstract A complete examination was made of 180 workers, all working during the investigation and all without acute respiratory disease. These workers were exposed to diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI). The following tests were performed: (1) Completion of a CECA questionnaire to reveal symptoms of chronic bronchitis. (2) Physical examination of the chest. (3) Spirographic tests (Expirograph Godart), determination of VC, FEV1, before and after 5 min aerosol with a bronchodilatator (orchiprenaline). The aerosol consisted of a 10 lt./min of flow at a 1/100 concentration of orchiprenaline. For the spirographic predicted values reference was made to the CECA values. The present paper reports the results of the analysis of the chronic bronchitis questionnaire, according to age, length of exposure, smoking habits and job. The data were grouped into different syndromes, from which 'simple bronchitis' and 'sputum breathlessness' were selected for further analysis. There was 19% positivity for chronic obstructive lung disease and 27% for simple bronchitis. Statistical analysis of the data was made according to age, degree of exposure, smoking habits and job.