Objective The aim of research is to study the development of chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) in steelworkers and to improve early detection of the disease and its prognosis. It is therefore proposed: -to develop, apply and validate a simple and reliable test for measuring pulmonary resistance at the workplace which does not depend on the cooperation of the subject under investigation; -to establish the specific effects of dust exposure (excluding smoking) on blood oxygenation in miners.A homogeneous group of steelworkers, who have been monitored for 6 years using a range of lung-function tests, will be monitored for a further period of 5 years. These workers were in good health at the start of the programme; 6 years later, approximately one-third was showing signs of pulmonary impairment. The research will therefore monitor the progressive development of COLD in an attempt to identify the nature and seat of the morbid process. Another objective of the research is to determine the comparative merits of the flow interruption method and of plethysmography, with a view to applying a simple and reliable method for measuring flow resistance at the workplace. Finally, the third proposal is to identify the pathogenesis of hypoxia: inadequate diffusion, increase in the anatomic shunt or abnormal ventilation -perfusion ratios. METHODS AND MEANS BY WHICH THE AIMS ARE TO BE ACHIEVEDA homogeneous group of steelworkers, who have been monitored for 6 years using a range of lung-function tests, will be monitored for a further period of 5 years. These workers were in good health at the start of the programme; 6 years later, approximately one-third was showing signs of pulmonary impairment. The research will therefore monitor the progressive development of COLD in an attempt to identify the nature and seat of the morbid process. Another objective of the research is to determine the comparative merits of the flow interruption method and of plethysmography, with a view to applying a simple and reliable method for measuring flow resistance at the workplace. Finally, the third proposal is to identify the pathogenesis of hypoxia: inadequate diffusion, increase in the anatomic shunt or abnormal ventilation -perfusion ratios. Programme(s) ECSC-MEDRES 5C - Fifth medical research programme (ECSC) "Protection of workers against risks arising from work in the coal and steel industries", 1988-1992 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator Université Catholique de Louvain EU contribution No data Address Avenue Hippocrate 10 1200 BRUXELLES Belgium See on map Total cost No data
