[Assessment of diagnostic lung function and diagnostic laboratory parameters in workers exposed to diesel exhaust...

Toxic gases caused by the use of large Diesel-driven devices in underground mines may lead to impairment of health, especially in the respiratory system. By means of occupational hygiene supervision it may be checked if the effectiveness of accomplished occupational hygiene measures are sufficient. By an enlarged examination programme of the respiratory function and laboratory diagnostic investigation miners exposed to Diesel-exhaust-gas were compared within the above mentioned supervision with a non-exposed population. In this study was not found any difference between the respiratory results attributed to influence of Diesel-exhaust-gas. Among the laboratory parameters the exposition to Diesel-exhaust-gas will only affect the mercapturic acid, however, which also may be influenced by other factors. Under the conditions of the measured low degree of exposition was not found any correlation between the level of mercapturic acids and the duration of exposure as well as to the actual degree of exhaust-gas exposition.