This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Eagan, T. M. L. Articles by Bakke, P. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Eagan, T. M. L. Articles by Bakke, P. S.

Occupational Airborne Exposure and the Incidence of Respiratory Symptoms and Asthma

Department of Thoracic Medicine; Centre for Clinical Research, Haukeland University Hospital; Institute of Medicine; and Section for Medical Statistics, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

Correspondence and requests for reprints should be addressed to Tomas Eagan, M.D., Department of Thoracic Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, N-5021 Bergen, Norway. E-mail: tomas.eagan{at}med.uib.no

Several prevalence studies have suggested an association between occupational exposure and respiratory symptoms and asthma, but there has been a lack of incidence studies to verify this. This study examined the incidence of respiratory symptoms and asthma in an 11-year Norwegian community cohort study with 2,819 subjects. Predictors examined were sex, age, educational level, lifetime exposure to quartz, asbestos, and dust or fumes, as well as smoking habits and pack-years. The prevalence of exposure to quartz, asbestos, and dust or fumes was, respectively, 3.7%, 5.0%, and 28.3% at baseline. In those exposed to dust or fumes, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) varied between 1.4 (1.1, 1.7) and 2.1 (1.3, 3.2) for developing respiratory symptoms or asthma after adjusting for sex, age, educational level, and smoking. Between 5.7% and 19.3% of the incidence of respiratory symptoms and 14.4% of the incidence of asthma were attributable to dust or fumes exposure after adjustment for sex, age, educational level, and smoking. In conclusion, airborne occupational exposure increases the incidence of respiratory symptoms and asthma, independent of sex, age, educational level, smoking habits, and pack-years.

Key Words: cohort study • incidence • asthma • respiratory symptoms • occupational exposure

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. Subbarao, P. J. Mandhane, and M. R. Sears Asthma: epidemiology, etiology and risk factors Can. Med. Assoc. J., October 27, 2009; 181(9): E181 - E190. [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. Li, J. Sundquist, and K. Sundquist Socioeconomic and occupational groups and risk of asthma in Sweden Occup. Med., May 1, 2008; 58(3): 161 - 168. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Johannessen, E. R Omenaas, G. E. Eide, P. S Bakke, and A. Gulsvik Feasible and simple exclusion criteria for pulmonary reference populations Thorax, September 1, 2007; 62(9): 792 - 798. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Johannessen, S. Lehmann, E. R. Omenaas, G. E. Eide, P. S. Bakke, and A. Gulsvik Post-Bronchodilator Spirometry Reference Values in Adults and Implications for Disease Management Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., June 15, 2006; 173(12): 1316 - 1325. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Johnson, B. G. Toelle, D. Yates, E. Belousova, K. Ng, S. Corbett, and G. Marks Occupational asthma in New South Wales (NSW): a population-based study. Occup. Med., June 1, 2006; 56(4): 258 - 262. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T Duelien Skorge, T M L Eagan, G E Eide, A Gulsvik, and P S Bakke Indoor exposures and respiratory symptoms in a Norwegian community sample Thorax, November 1, 2005; 60(11): 937 - 942. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A Johannessen, E R Omenaas, P S Bakke, and A Gulsvik Implications of reversibility testing on prevalence and risk factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a community study Thorax, October 1, 2005; 60(10): 842 - 847. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. E. Mapp, P. Boschetto, P. Maestrelli, and L. M. Fabbri Occupational Asthma Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., August 1, 2005; 172(3): 280 - 305. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E S Wallen and K B Mulloy Computer based safety training: an investigation of methods Occup. Environ. Med., April 1, 2005; 62(4): 257 - 262. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Toren, T. Gislason, E. Omenaas, R. Jogi, B. Forsberg, L. Nystrom, A-C. Olin, C. Svanes, C. Janson, and on behalf of the RHINE study group A prospective study of asthma incidence and its predictors: the RHINE study Eur. Respir. J., December 1, 2004; 24(6): 942 - 946. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T.M.L. Eagan, A. Gulsvik, G.E. Eide, and P.S. Bakke Remission of respiratory symptoms by smoking and occupational exposure in a cohort study Eur. Respir. J., April 1, 2004; 23(4): 589 - 594. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Brogger, T. Eagan, G.E. Eide, P. Bakke, and A. Gulsvik Bias in retrospective studies of trends in asthma incidence Eur. Respir. J., February 1, 2004; 23(2): 281 - 286. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Tobin Asthma, Airway Biology, and Nasal Disorders in AJRCCM 2002 Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., February 1, 2003; 167(3): 319 - 332. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Tobin Tuberculosis, Lung Infections, Interstitial Lung Disease, and Journalology in AJRCCM 2002 Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., February 1, 2003; 167(3): 345 - 355. [Full Text] [PDF]