[Perforation of the nasal septum of occupational origin]

Perforations of nasal septum as typical effects of exposure to certain hazards are a particular health problem among the diseases of upper respiratory tract mucous membranes (entry 10 on the list of occupational diseases). To obtain more data on etiopathogenetic factors and correlations between the clinical picture and exposure duration, the documentation of the patients in whom perforation was diagnosed during 1972-1979 was analysed epidemiologically. The examinations covered 185 workers of various industrial branches-salina, chemical plants, leather plants, tanneries, electroplating plants-who developed nasal septum perforation due to local effects of working environment irritants. In the test group the nasal septum was defected mostly in those exposed to chromium compounds (46.5%) and in salina workers (44.3%). In the remaining 9.2% of subjects the septum perforation resulted from exposure to arsenic, nickel, silicone compounds, cadmium, fluorine, soda and ammonia. The clinical course of the disease was presented as classified by industrial branch, occupational exposure, age and length of employment. In addition, procedures of diagnostics, certification and prevention were considered.