PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Kim de Jong
AU  - Marike Boezen
AU  - Hans Kromhout
AU  - Roel Vermeulen
AU  - Dirkje Postma
AU  - Judith Vonk
TI  - Occupational exposure to pesticides is associated with excess lung function decline in a general population
DP  - 2013 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 407
VI  - 42
IP  - Suppl 57
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/407.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/407.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2013 Sep 01; 42
AB  - BackgroundOccupational exposures have been shown to be a risk factor for reduced level of lung function and airway obstruction in the general population. Whether occupational exposures affect decline of lung function is largely unknown.AimTo assess whether occupational exposure to vapors, gases, dusts and fumes (VGDF), and pesticides affect lung function decline in a general population.MethodsWe used 13,150 observations from 2,527 subjects participating in the Vlagtwedde-Vlaardingen cohort that was followed for 25 years. Job-specific exposure (no/low/high) at last survey was estimated with the ALOHA+ Job Exposure Matrix. Associations between the exposures and annual declines in FEV1 and FEV1/VC were assessed with LME models, including sex, lung function level and age at first measurement, packyears at last measurement and co-exposure to VGDF or pesticides.ResultsHigh exposure to pesticides was associated with excess decline of FEV1 and of FEV1/VC independent of VGDF exposure. After stratification by smoking status this remained significant in ever smokers only (figure 1). Exposure to VGDF was not associated with decline of FEV1 or FEV1/VC after adjustment for co-exposure to pesticides.ConclusionsOccupational exposure to pesticides is associated with excess decline of lung function in ever smokers from the general population.Figure 1. Exposure to pesticides and lung function decline in ever smokers.