[Analysis of respiratory parameters before and after working in manual laborers at a tobacco factory]

From the group of 102 workers of local cigarette factory 51 persons had a contact with tobacco leaves before fermentation and other 51 workers with after process of fermentation. Values of spirometric parameters before and after 8 hour lung occupational exposition to tobacco leaves were evaluated in both groups. Increase of obturation of both large and small airways was found after workshift. 31 of examined persons had more than 20% inferior values of FEV1, Raw and FEF 25/75. That hyperspasmatic reaction of bronchi was found both in subjects with signs of obturation and in persons with normal results in examination before workshift. This finding concerned mostly workers who inhaled dust of tobacco leaves prior to fermentation.