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During their Work, Dustmen are exposed to important and various microbiological Aerosols, which, according to the Granulometry, could have an Influence on the Start and the Progress of chronic Bronchitis.

The MRC questionnaire on respiratory symptoms was applied to 429 employees of the sanitation department of the city of Geneva. At the same time, the PFR was determined. The prevalence of the chronic bronchitis was shown to be three times as high in this sample as in the active population of Geneva from the same age group. According to our results, the severity of the respiratory symptoms as well as the level of the respiratory function depended, besides age, on the three risk factors which had been taken into account: cigarette smoking, a history of broncho-pulmonary disease and occupational exposure to weather conditions and air pollution. In the absence of these factors, the severity of symptoms was the lowest and the respiratory function the highest. With all these factors combined, the severity of symptoms was the most pronounced and the function the worst, particularly in bronchitics. It seems that prevention of chronic bronchitis should not rely only upon antismoking propaganda but that the combination of several risks factors should be avoided.