Chronic bronchitis and occupation

Over and above the acute respiratory conditions produced in industry by irritant and sensitising substances it is probable that long-term changes which give rise to the symptom complex of chronic bronchitis can be caused or aggravated by the working environment. There is evidence that prolonged exposure to dust can cause harm to the respiratory tract and that certain dusts are more capable of producing damage than others. In most cases there are non-occupational factors which contribute to the final condition, with the result that it is impossible to be sure of the part occupation has played in any particular patient, and in consequence the disease does not qualify for prescription under the Industrial Injuries Act. There is need for further field investigations aimed at identifying with precision the occupational hazards likely to lead to chronic bronchitis. This would not only enable “compensation” to be granted in appropriate cases but, what is more important, it would make it possible to institute preventive measures.