[Current occupational respiratory pathology in Switzerland]

The main features of occupational industrial respiratory diseases in Switzerland can be summarized as follows: -Silicosis: 9750 cases from 1930 to 1979. At present low annual incidence (less than 100 cases), age at first diagnosis over 40 years, at death almost 70 years. - Asbestosis: 130 cases from 1939 to 1979. 30 cases of mesothelioma (21 without asbestosis; 9 with), 9 of bronchial carcinoma and 1 of gastric cancer in the 130 cases of asbestosis. - Acute toxic lung (irritant gases such as chlorine, phosgene, nitrous gases), occupational asthma, extrinsic alveolitis and finally occupational chronic bronchitis are the principal diseases also observed.