Chronic aspecific respiratory tract diseases in workers of pig-breeding farms

To study chronic nonspecific respiratory diseases of people working in industrial swine confinement buildings, a cross sectional study was initiated. Based on history of diseases, clinical and parameters of ventilatory screening in 238 swine producers a frequency of chronic respiratory symptoms were found in 25.6%. The possible dependence on age, sex, smoking history, working conditions and duration of activity was investigated. The influence of professional and non professional factors had different intensity. The results of investigations of working conditions did not exceed the permitted maximal working place concentrations. So they could not prove the large frequency of respiratory diseases.