Abstract
Much of the current burden of long-latency respiratory disease (LLRD) in Great Britain is attributed to historical asbestos exposure. However, continuing exposure to other agents, notably silica, also contributes to disease burden. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of work-related LLRD reported by chest physicians in Great Britain, including variations by age, gender, occupation and suspected agent.
LLRD incidence and incidence rate ratios by occupation were estimated (1996–2014). Mesothelioma cases by occupation were compared with proportional mortality ratios.
Cases were predominantly in men (95%) and 92% of all cases were attributed to asbestos. Annual average incidence rates (males) per 100 000 were: benign pleural disease, 7.1 (95% CI 6.0–8.2); mesothelioma, 5.4 (4.8–6.0); pneumoconiosis, 1.9 (1.7–2.2); lung cancer, 0.8 (0.6–1.0); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 0.3 (0.2–0.4). Occupations with a particularly high incidence of LLRD were miners and quarrymen (COPD), plumbers and gas fitters (asbestosis), and shipyard and dock workers (all other categories). There was a clear concordance between cases of SWORD mesothelioma and proportional mortality ratios by occupation.
Occupationally caused LLRD continues to contribute to a significant disease burden. Many cases are attributable to past exposure to agents such as asbestos and silica, but the potential for occupational exposures persists.
Abstract
Occupational long-latency respiratory disease contributes to a significant disease burden with ongoing exposure risk http://ow.ly/ahyF30gM9DK
Footnotes
Support statement: This work was partly supported by the Health and Safety Executive in the UK (contract number PRJ500). The information and views set out in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the Health and Safety Executive. Funding information for this article has been deposited with the Crossref Funder Registry.
Conflict of interest: None declared.
- Received May 10, 2017.
- Accepted September 26, 2017.
- Copyright ©ERS 2017
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