[Evaluation of respiratory function in coke workers. II: Influence of 8 hour exposure on ventilation efficiency]

The functional status of airways was estimated in 2 groups of workers of Nowa Huta Steel-Mill--55 employees of coke division and 54 men working in the moulding metal channel division. Industrial pollution in these divisions highly exceeded hygienic standards. In the coke plant SO2 and NOx--irritants of respiratory tract were present. Determinations of respiratory parameters (FVC, FEV1, Raw and FEF25/75) were performed before and after work-shift. Excessive spastic reaction of respiratory tract defined by 20% decrease of FEV1 and FEF25/75 with simultaneous increase of Raw after the work-shift was found only in the group of coke plant workers. The excessive spastic reaction was observed in some workers with obturation diagnosed before shift and also in approximately 10% of "healthy" population.