Respiratory symptoms and lung function in black and white mining and non-mining industrial workers in South Africa
Sluis-Cremer, G.K.; Harrison, W.O.; Pearson, R.C.
South African Medical Journal 59(19): 672-675
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0256-9574 PMID: 7221788 Document Number: 170632
The results of a number of chronic respiratory disease surveys were presented. Data for whites and blacks were compared and the effect of smoking habits was reported. Results were discussed in the light of ethnic differences reported in the literature. While circumspection is urged in interpreting the results of chronic respiratory disease surveys carried out by different medical teams, apparently the problem in blacks will increase as they change from pipe smoking to cigarette smoking and when they live in more highly polluted areas. There is still evidence that at equal levels of cigarette smoking, blacks are less prone to develop symptoms and lose lung function than whites.