SMOKING HABIT AND BRONCHIAL
HYPERRESPONSIVENESS AMONG POTROOM
WORKERS IN ALUMINIUM INDUSTRY

    Changes of pulmonary function in some potroom workers occur several hours on beginning of their work (early reaction), or after work (late reaction) either because concentrations of damaging agents are high or reactions of workers’ organism are inhanced. Numerous studies, especially the tests of bronchial responsiveness confirmed bronchial hyperreactivity as the reason of attacks. Results of numerous studies indicated the connection between exposure at workplace, smoking habit, non-specific air pollutants on one hand and the appearance of bronchial asthma on the other.
    The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between smoking habit and intensity of bronchial hyperreactivity in potroom workers in aluminium industry. We examined 133 potroom workers (mean age - 39,73; mean duration of exposure - 17,17 years) and 35 unemployed persons belonging to the control group not having been exposed to the agents occuring in the occupational environment. Smoking habit was highly frequent in potroom workers (62,4%) and the situation was similar with the control group (62,8%). Bronchial hyperresponsiveness was registered in 36,8% of the exposed workers and in 34,4% of the workers in the control group (an insignificant difference).
    Analysing spirometric values in potroom workers regarding their smoking habit, we found a significant difference only for small airways’ values (MEF25, MEF50, MEF25/75,). Hyperreactors with smoking habit had more pronounced bronchoobstruction (FVC-29,2%; FEV1 - 34,2% when compared to hyperreactors non-smokers (FVC - 18,1%, FEV1 - 20,5%). Hyperreactors ex-smokers had more pronounced reactions to meatcholine test (FCV - 29,2%, FEV1 - 31,7%) when compared to non-smokers.
    We concluded that smoking habit could intensify bronchial hyperresponsiveness even in ex-smokers. Acta Medica Medianae 2005; 44(1): 39-45.

    Key words: potroom workers, bronchial hyperreactivity, pulmonary function, metacholine
test, smoking habit