Operatives with non-byssinotic work related chest tightness and work related cough did not seem to have notably impaired lung function compared with operatives without this additional symptom. This tends to imply that significant airflow obstruction was not the cause of these symptoms, although the lung function assessment was made only on one occasion and consequently did not reflect physiological changes when the symptom was being experienced nor did it enable conclusions to be drawn about falls in FEVI in these people during a shift.