[Chronic obstructive airway diseases caused by long-term occupational exposure to asphalt pyrolysis products].
The paper reports on 6 roofers who have been specialized on production of damming up roofs and insulation of wet rooms for 20 years. There was chronic obstructive bronchitis with functional impairment of different degree in 4 of them. These diseases were acknowledged as occupational diseases by special committee decision (BK SE). The pyrolysis products developing while heating the bituminous masses used for insulation purposes were recognized as causal agents.