[Occupational damage of the sense of smell]

Workers occupationally exposed to synthetic lacquers vapours and wood dust underwent olfactometric and laryngological examinations. The findings indicated that the synthetic lacquers vapours induced neurotoxic lesions of the smell sense. The wood dust causes only nasal cavity mucous membrane lesions inhibiting smell stimuli access to the smelling area. It was suggested olfactometric tests should be included into the preemployment examinations.