%0 Journal Article %A Peter Burney %A Bernet Kato %A Bernd Lamprecht %A Louie Idolor %A Amund Gulsvik %A Sonia Buist %T Occupational exposures and airway obstruction in the burden of obstuctive lung disease (BOLD) study %D 2011 %J European Respiratory Journal %P 1902 %V 38 %N Suppl 55 %X Introduction: Occupational exposures are a recognised cause of respiratory morbidity but there are few population based estimates of their effects on lung function.Methods: The Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease programme undertook post-bronchodilator spirometry in representative samples of people over the age of 40 years in 15 sites (N=14,400). It also collected information on occupation, including employment in specific industries, with the length of employment in each. Named industries were classified into three exposure groups: Fumes (F), Inorganic dusts (ID) and Organic dusts (OD). Odds ratios were estimated compared with the unexposed population adjusting for sex, age, smoking, pack-years, height and education, first for any exposure and then for length of exposure. Meta-analytical methods were used to combine risks between sites. COPD was defined as a FEV1/FVC ratio < Lower Limit of Normal.Results: 10% were exposed to F, 9% to ID and 24% to OD. COPD was more common in those exposed; (OR (95%CI)) for F=1.80 (1.29, 2.53), for ID=1.51 (1.03, 2.22) and for OD=1.27 (0.96, 1.69). However much of the excess risk was seen in those exposed for less than a year. The risks (OR (95%CI))/ten years exposure after the first year were F: 1.03 (0.87, 1.21); ID: 0.90 (0.75, 1.07); OD: 1.06 (0.94, 1.20). After stratification the estimated OR from OD in non-smokers was possibly raised, but not significantly, at 1.26 (0.97, 1.64) per 10 years exposure.Conclusions: Estimates of effects were probably strongly influenced by a healthy worker effect. Further data are needed and are being collected. %U