Lung function decline, chronic bronchitis, and occupational exposures in young adults.

Abstract

RATIONALE:

Occupational exposures to vapors, gas, dust, or fumes have been shown to be a risk factor of airway obstruction in cross-sectional studies in the general population.

OBJECTIVES:

Our aim was to study the relationships between specific occupations and occupational exposures during a 9-yr follow-up period and changes in lung function and symptoms of chronic bronchitis.

METHODS:

Subjects from the general population aged 20 to 45 yr were randomly selected in 1991-1993 within the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Follow-up took place from 1998 to 2002 among 4,079 males and 4,461 females in 27 study centers. A total of 3,202 men and 3,279 women twice completed lung function measurements. Job history during follow-up was linked to a job exposure matrix and consequently translated into cumulative exposure estimates.

MAIN RESULTS:

Individuals exposed to dusts, gases, and fumes during the period of follow-up did not have a steeper decline of FEV1 than did individuals with consistently white-collar occupations without occupational exposures (relative change among men and women, + 1.4 and -3.1 ml/yr, respectively; p > 0.2), nor an increase of prevalence or incidence of airway obstruction defined as an FEV1/FVC ratio of less than 0.7. The incidence of chronic phlegm increased in men exposed to mineral dust (relative risk, 1.94 [1.29-2.91]) and gases and fumes (relative risk, 1.53 [0.99-2.36]), which was not modified by smoking.

CONCLUSION:

Occupational exposures to dusts, gases, and fumes occurring during the 1990s are associated with incidence of chronic bronchitis, although these did not impair lung function in a population of relatively young age.

• Authors: Jordi Sunyer, Jan Paul Zock, Hans Kromhout, Raquel Garcia-Esteban, Katja Radon, Deborah Jarvis, Kjell Toren, Nino Künzli, Dan Norbäck, Angelo d'Errico, Isabel Urrutia, Félix Payo, Mario Olivieri, Simona Villani, Marc Van Sprundel, Josep M Antó, Manolis Kogevinas, Occupational Group of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey
• Journal: American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine (Am J Respir Crit Care Med) Vol. 172 Issue 9 Pg. 1139-45 (Nov 01 2005) ISSN: 1073-449X [Print] United States
• PMID: 16040784 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Air Pollutants, Occupational

Topics

• Adult
• Air Pollutants, Occupational (adverse effects)
• Bronchitis, Chronic (etiology)
• Europe
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Forced Expiratory Volume (physiology)
• Health Surveys
• Humans
• Lung (physiopathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Occupational Exposure (adverse effects)
• Occupations
• Risk Factors
• Vital Capacity (physiology)