Impairment of respiratory tract in workers of electroporcelain plant

U toku 1969. i 1970. godine provedeno je ispitivanje radne sredine u tvornici elektroporcelana »Energoinvest« s naročitim osvrtom na stanje zaprašenosti vazduha. Paralelno s tim izvršeno je utvrđivanje prevalencije pneumokonioze, tuberkuloze pluća i hroničnog bronhitisa kod radnika ove tvornice. Ispitivanjem je obuhvaćeno 165 radnika. Prevalencija pneumokonioza i aktivne tuberkuloze kod radnika tvornice elektroporcelana iznosi 3,0%, inaktivna tuberkuloza ima prevalenciju 3,63%, a hronični bronhitis ima nešto nižu stopu prevalencije - 2,42%. Pored toga, u jednom slučaju pneumokonioza je bila udružena s aktivnom tuberkulozom pluća. Date su kliničko-rendgenološke karakteristike ovih oboljenja. Nađena je tijesna veza između pojave respiratornih oštećenja i stanja zaprašenosti vazduha. Predložen je niz preventivnih mjera za tehničku zaštitu, medicinsku kontrolu radnika i biološke metode zaštite (BCG vakcinacija na primjer).In the course of 1969 and 1970 an examination of the working environment was carried out in the »Energoinvest« electroporcelain plant. Special attention was paid to dust conditions. At the same time the prevalence of pneumoconiosis, pulmonary tuberculosis and chronic bronchitis in workers was recorded. Out of 165 workers examined, the prevalence both of pneumoconiosis and active tuberculosis was 3.03% (inactive - 3.63%), while the prevalence of chronic bronchitis was lower, i. e. 2.42%. Both, the clinical and X-ray characteristics of these diseases are presented. One case was found where pneumoconiosis was accompanied by active tuberculosis. The investigation showed a close link between the impairment of the respiratory system and dust conditions especially where free Si02 and the finest fractions of respirable dust were present. A number of protective measures have been suggested such as: technical protection of workers, health control and some biological protective methods (e. g. BGG vaccination)