[Changes in the health status in occupational under-water activities]

For the past 10 years of so, Italian professional divers have had obligatory medical check-ups once a year. These check-ups are based on International standards and are particularly important for divers going to work abroad or in the open sea. The present report is based on clinical data about 100 professional divers aged 20-50. The subjects had worked 1-30 years accumulating a total of 200-5000 shallow dives. 41% had also done deep work using intervention and saturation techniques. No significant incidence of common was encountered. Radiology revealed bone alterations in 52 subjects (to the joints in 17 cases). Hearing problems were encountered in 47 divers, mostly slight and often totally or partially cured during the observation period. 5 subjects were found to be unsuitable for saturation work. The aetiopathogenetic significance of the alterations encountered is discussed in terms of the type and duration of diving practised.