Abstract
In four samples of cement workers and adequate controls and in a group of their wives, forced vital capacity (FVC) and one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1) were measured. In all four samples FEV1/FVC ratio was significantly lower in cement workers (P < .05). A significant difference in this ratio was also found when cement workers who were nonsmokers were compared with control nonsmokers (P < .01). The FVC was within normal limits in all four samples. An inverse relationship between duration of work experience in cement plants and values of both FVC and FEV1/FVC ratio was found. There was no significant difference in the values of these two tests between two groups of examined wives. The results suggest that the exposure to occupational factors in cement plants may lead to a predominantly obstructive ventilatory impairment

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