RESUMEN
The aim of the study was to examine the influence of work in exposure to copper on the respiratory system. The study was carried out in 267 men aged (x +/- SD) 40.6 +/- 7.2 yrs, workers of a colour metal mill. 134 of them dealt with casting and processing of copper (the mean weighed concentration of copper on work posts was below 0.05 mg x m-3) and 133, not employed in a contaminated environment, comprised the control group. The subjects were divided into five groups according to the degree of energy expenditure at work and, additionally cigarette smoking was taken into account. All subjects underwent medical examination and spirometry. However the mean values of the ventilatory parameters in the compared groups did not significantly differ (p > 0.05), the multivarious regression analysis has shown a decreasing trend of FEV1 and FVC with relation to the exposition to copper and tobacco smoking. The frequency of chronic bronchitis as well as of radiological changes was not increased. The authors conclude: 1. At copper concentration not exceeding the MAC, and an advantageous microclimate, this exposition only slightly diminishes the pulmonary ventilation and does not cause other comprehensible pulmonary pathological sequelae, especially chronic bronchitis. 2. Tobacco smoking is a favourable factor for the occurrence of chronic bronchitis.