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Non-sensitising air pollution at workplaces and adult-onset asthma in the beginning of this millennium

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Abstract

Purpose

This case–control study was undertaken to elucidate the controversy concerning whether low-level, long-term exposure to non-sensitising air pollution at workplaces may cause asthma.

Methods

A case–control study of 192 adult-onset asthma cases aged 20–65 years and 323 controls was conducted in the southeast of Sweden. Cases were identified from computerised registers from the region, diagnosed 2000–2004 and diagnoses were confirmed via medical files. Referents were randomised from the population register of the region. Exposure was monitored by a 16-page questionnaire. Special attention was devoted to identifying and in the final analyses excluding subjects exposed to sensitising agents.

Results

Three years or more of occupational exposure to air pollution from dust, smoke, fumes or vapours before the year of diagnosis by analyses adjusting for age yielded an increased risk for asthma (OR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.2–4.2) in men, while in women, no risk was seen. In a multiple logistic regression analysis in men without allergy in childhood, a significant risk was seen (OR = 2.8, 95% CI 1.07–7.4), when subjects exposed to identified allergens were excluded. In women, no excess risk was observed from occupational air pollution.

Conclusion

The results of this study support an association between occupational exposure to low level non–sensitising air pollution and adult-onset asthma in men.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Swedish Cancer and Allergy Foundation and Forss (Medical Research Council of Southeast Sweden), grant 2002-413. The authors thank the general practitioners in the County Council of Kalmar for assistance, especially Drs Bengt Öberg, Staffan Skobe and Roger Lindbergh and Mrs Marie Mobäck for data collection support. We thank Anna-Lena Hällsten for great administrative support in this study.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinic of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, 58185, Linkoping, Sweden

    Pål Graff & Ulf Flodin

  2. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linkoping University, 58183, Linkoping, Sweden

    Mats Fredrikson & Pia Jönsson

Authors
  1. Pål Graff
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  2. Mats Fredrikson
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  3. Pia Jönsson
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  4. Ulf Flodin
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Correspondence to Pål Graff.

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Graff, P., Fredrikson, M., Jönsson, P. et al. Non-sensitising air pollution at workplaces and adult-onset asthma in the beginning of this millennium. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 84, 797–804 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-011-0671-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-011-0671-2

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