The risk of asthma in relation to occupational exposures: a case-control study from a Swedish city

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to estimate the risk of adult asthma in relation to certain occupational exposures.The study was designed as a case±control study in Go Èteborg, including 321 subjects with asthma, born between 1926 and 1970. Controls (n=1,459) were randomly selected from the same area from registers of the 1986 population. Questionnaire information was collected in 1996, and included occupational exposures and smoking habits. Odds ratios were calculated for exposure before asthma onset, stratified by sex and ageclass.The highest risks for asthma were associated with exposure to grain dust (odds ratio (OR) 4.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6±10.7) and flour dust (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.1± 7.2). Among males, significantly increased risks were observed after exposure to flour dust, welding fumes, man-made mineral fibres, and solvents. Among females, increased risks for asthma were associated with exposures to paper dust and textile dust. In logistic regression models controlling for age, smoking, sex and interacting exposures, increased risks were seen for welding fumes (OR 2.0, 95% CI 15±3.4), manmade mineral fibres (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.4±7.3) and solvents (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2±3.2). The fraction of asthma attributed to occupational exposures after adjusting for sex, smoking and age was 11% (95% CI 7±14%).In conclusion, exposure to welding fumes, man-made mineral fibres, solvents and textile dust is associated with increased risk for asthma. Eur Respir J 1999; 13: 496±501.

Epidemiologic estimate of the proportion of fatalities related to occupational factors in Finland

“…This finding was corroborated by a Swedish mortality study (241) that also disclosed increased mortality from asthma among male farmers. In a case-referent study (242) from Göteborg, Sweden, exposure to welding fumes, man-made mineral fibers, solvents, and textile dust was related to an increased risk of asthma. In that study, the proportion of asthma attributed to occupational factors was 11% (95% CI 7-14%).…”

Exploration of asthma risk by occupation - extended analysis of an incidence study of the Finnish population

“…Recent studies of the work-related risks of asthma have reported that adjustment for smoking had only a minimal or no effect on the risk estimates (6,(11)(12)(13). We could not adjust for smoking, but it is unlikely that differences in the prevalence of smoking between occupations would have significantly biased our risk estimates.…”

Work-related asthma and implications for the general public.

“…The variability in these estimates is likely due to differences in study methodology as well as the differing profiles of occupational exposures found in the study locations. Several recent studies have suggested that between 10 and 25% of adult asthma is likely to be related to occupational exposures (25,26). Estimates of the overall yearly incidence of occupational asthma in the U.S. working population have ranged in different studies from 29 to 710 cases per million workers.…”