HEALTH SURVEY OF WORKERS OCCUPATIONALLY EXPOSED TO COBALT

The results are presented for a health control program using 236 male workers exposed to a cobalt inhalation risk. The study group consisted of grinders, producers of diamond tools, workers in metallurgical and mechanical industries (where Widia tools are processed and sharpened) , and finally formerly exposed workers. All subjects received a clinic al examination, the European Community for Coal and Steel questionnair e on respiratory complaints, a chest X-ray, pulmonary function test, e lectrocardiogram and determination of urinary cobalt; in 91 subjects, the metacholine bronchial provocation test was performed. Three cases of interstitial lung disease were identified. There were no cases with a significant alteration of ventilatory function while 20 cases (16 e xposed and four formerly exposed workers) showed a reduced carbon mono xide transfer coefficient (T(L,CO,s)b/Va).