PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Halina Baradzina AU - Hennady Hurevich TI - Smoking and lung diseases in potash miners with long record service DP - 2013 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - P1029 VI - 42 IP - Suppl 57 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P1029.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P1029.full SO - Eur Respir J2013 Sep 01; 42 AB - There are known negative effects of smoking and coal-dust on the lung function. The impact of smoking on the lung function of the potash mines with long industrial work record of service has not been so far well investigated.Objective: To investigate the lung function characteristics and frequency of lung diseases of smokers and non smokers of potash mine in Soligorsk.Methods: 132 potash miners were included in our study (all male, average age 37.7 yrs, average industrial work record of service 16.4 yrs) were divided into 2 group (78 smokers with 17.3 yrs period of smoking and 52 never smoked). Control group (n=34) was not affected by industrial factors.Results: The miner’s lung function characteristics were totally according to the normal significance. There were no significant differences in characteristics between the miners and workers that were not affected by industrial factors. But VC (77.1±6.5 and 99.8±7.4) and MEV75 (80.5±6.4 and 102.5±8.1) were decreased in smokers to compare with non smokers (p <0.05). Lung function disturbance was statistically associated with smoking (Relative Risk (RR) 1.47±0.19; 95% DI 1.25-1.66; p=0.029) but was not associated with industrial factors influence. Frequency of lung diseases also was associated only with smoking (RR) 1.36±0.21; 95% DI 0.98-1.62; p=0.034) but not with industrial factors.Conclusion: Despite of influence of industrial aerosols the lung function of the potassium mines remained normal for a long time. This result is probably influenced by broncholytic and mucolytic effects of potassium salt. Our investigation shows that smoking exerts more intensive negative influence on the lung function of the potassium mine workers than industrial aerosols.