[Soot lung as occupational disease]

Lung findings among 13 workers employed in a carbon black plant are presented. The concentrations of respirable dust at the work place exceeded the MAC for dust free of quartz. X-rays show disseminated small irregular and large shadows with slow progress. In two cases lung tissue was examinated histologically. Both accumulation of carbon black and development of collagen fibers were seen. According to x-rays and histological findings the lung disease can be estimated as a pneumoconiosis. Legal recognition of carbon black lung as an occupational disease can be achieved in a special procedure called "Sonderentscheidverfahren".