Respiratory symptoms and dermatoses among grinders and brazers of hard metal and stellite blades

摘要

The objectives of the were to determine whether grinders and brazers of hard metal and stellite blades have more respiratory symptoms and dermatoses than referents and to obtain information on the relation between respiratory symptoms and combined exposure to cobalt and wood dust. Two groups of workers exposed to cobalt (108 workers in the manufacture or maintenance of tools and 116 saw filers in the mechanical wood-processing industry) and two reference groups (106 rolling mill and 103 sawmill workers) were interviewed. The prevalence of DTS-like symptoms (work-related cough, dyspnoea, or fever or chills) was higher for the saw filers than the sawmill referents.