Ten years ago this department investigated 1295 textile weavers in the Lancashire area. A very low prevalence of byssinosis was found. However, there was a moderate prevalence of other upper and lower respiratory symptoms. Ten years later, three of the original mills were visited and their workforce studied with respiratory symptom questionnaire, spirometry and measurement of total inhalable dust in the personal breathing zone. Altogether, 317 workers were seen, 117 of them for the second time (ie., ten years later). None of them were diagnosed as having byssinosis. The prevalence of upper and lower respiratory symptoms was very similar to that ten years ago. Logistic regression showed personal factors (young age, female sex) to be predictors of upper respiratory symptoms. No independent factors emerged when the same analysis was attempted for lower respiratory symptoms. Overall, FEV1 decline for the 117 operatives was 11.5 ml/year (CI 1.7-21.3). Corresponding values for non-smokers and smokers were 4.1 ml/year (CI –5.9-14.0) and 28.8 ml/year (CI 7.4-50.2) respectively. Independent predictors for FEV1 and FVC decline were current smoking and work with man-made fibre respectively.