Epidemiology of pneumoconiosis and dust bronchitis in machine-building industry workers

The article provides a study of pneumoconiosis morbidity rate in machine-building industry workers in 1967-1986. The pneumoconiosis prevalence was ranging from 3.9 to 0.8 cases per 1000 medical examinations performed. The disease's initial forms were predominantly diagnosed through considerably frequent (30%) cases of anthraco-tuberculosis. More complicated forms of dust bronchitis were studied in 1971-1988 and registered at approximately 1 case per 1000 medical examinations. A vivid trend towards pneumoconiosis morbidity decrease and respective age and duration of work indices' growth was found in the latter decade, which was explained by more persistent measures taken towards working conditions improvement.