PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - I.A. Bergdahl
AU  - K. Torén
AU  - K. Eriksson
AU  - U. Hedlund
AU  - T. Nilsson
AU  - R. Flodin
AU  - B. Järvholm
TI  - Increased mortality in COPD among construction workers exposed to inorganic dust
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.04.00034304
DP  - 2004 Mar 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 402--406
VI  - 23
IP  - 3
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/23/3/402.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/23/3/402.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2004 Mar 01; 23
AB  - The aim of this study was to find out if occupational exposure to dust, fumes or gases, especially among never-smokers, increased the mortality from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A cohort of 317,629 Swedish male construction workers was followed from 1971 to 1999. Exposure to inorganic dust (asbestos, man-made mineral fibres, dust from cement, concrete and quartz), gases and irritants (epoxy resins, isocyanates and organic solvents), fumes (asphalt fumes, diesel exhaust and metal fumes), and wood dust was based on a job-exposure matrix. An internal control group with “unexposed” construction workers was used, and the analyses were adjusted for age and smoking. When all subjects were analysed, there was an increased mortality from COPD among those with any airborne exposure (relative risk 1.12 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–1.22)). In a Poisson regression model, including smoking, age and the major exposure groups, exposure to inorganic dust was associated with an increased risk (hazard ratio (HR) 1.10 (95% CI 1.06–1.14)), especially among never-smokers (HR 2.30 (95% CI 1.07–4.96)). The fraction of COPD among the exposed attributable to any airborne exposure was estimated as 10.7% overall and 52.6% among never-smokers. In conclusion, occupational exposure among construction workers increases mortality due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, even among never-smokers. This study was supported by The Swedish Council for working life and social research.