[Clinical and pathogenetic features of exposure of workers to antimonate ore]

A total of 100 miners exposed to antimonate dust concentrations considerably exceeding the MAC were examined, and 16% of the subjects appeared to have chronic bronchitis. No pneumoconioses were diagnosed. The chronic bronchitis was characterized by mild slow course with I degree of ventilation disturbances. Antimonate ore turned out to induce toxic effects and activate some protective mechanisms: phagocytosis, immune response, inhibition of proteases.