Chronic Respiratory Disease in Postal Employees

Abstract

A survey was made by means of a standard questionnaire and spirometric test of 1,584 postal employees, aged 40 years or more, for respiratory symptoms and ventilatory impairment. "Chronic" cough and phlegm was recorded in 156, "chronic" wheezing in 108, and shortness of breath which interfered with ordinary activity in 67. Respiratory illness which caused at least a week's absence from work during the previous three years was noted in 104 subjects. Chronic respiratory symptoms, absences from work for respiratory disease, and diminished values in ventilatory tests were highly correlated with the amount of cigarette smoking. No relationship was found between chronic respiratory symptoms and prior exposure to silica dust.