[Early diagnosis by means of flow volume curves in workers with respiratory exposure (author's transl)]

In 432 electric welders and 420 not respiratory exposed workers the information value of spirometry (VC, FEV1) and flow volume curves (PEF, V2/V1, V50, V75) was examined taking into consideration the influence of age, smoking and occupational exposure. Despite the higher frequency of chronic bronchitis and pulmonary siderosis in exposed workers no influence of welding fumes on the above mentioned parameters could be shown. Comparing different smoking groups all parameters (with the exception of VC) exhibited the same trend, the FEV1 at the top regarding significance and weight. These results don't support a wider use of flow volume curves in the screening of not selected groups of different exposure. Whether the compared methods can lead to different qualitative or prognostic informations should be examined further in studies comparing functional and morphological data and in epidemiological follow-up studies.