title: Incidence of rhinitis and asthma related to welding in Northern Europe.
abstract: Welding-related asthma is well recognised but less is known about rhinitis in relation to welding. The aim here, was to study associations between welding, rhinitis and asthma in a general population sample, and factors influencing selection into and out of a welding occupation.Adult-onset asthma and non-infectious rhinitis were investigated in the international multicentre population-based Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) study, including 16,191 responders aged 26-54 years. Ever welding (n=2181), welding >25% of working time (n=747), and welding in stainless steel >6 months (n=173) were assessed by questionnaire. Subjects with rhinitis or asthma onset when aged <18 years were excluded. Incidence rates for asthma and rhinitis were calculated from year of disease onset, and start and end of welding job. Cox's proportional hazard models adjusting for age, sex, parental education and study centre, and Kaplan-Meier curves were used.Rhinitis incidence was higher among welders (hazard ratio (HR) 1.4, 95% CI 1.3-1.6), consistent in men and women, and across centres (pheterogeneity=0.4). In men, asthma incidence was higher among welders (HR 1.4, 95% CI 1.04-1.97). Quitting welding was indicated higher after adult-onset rhinitis (HR 1.1, 95% CI 1.0-1.3). Adult-onset rhinitis and asthma was higher among welders, consistent across population samples from Northern Europe. No pre-employment selection was found, whereas selection out of welding jobs was suggested.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway Dept of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway torgeir.storaas@helse-bergen.no.
authors.forename: Torgeir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Storaas
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jan-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Zock
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana Espinosa
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Morano
authors.affiliation: Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.affiliation: Dept of Respiratory Medicine and Sleep, Landspitali-University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland.
authors.forename: Eythor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bjørnsson
authors.affiliation: Dept of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Bertil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Forsberg
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland Dept of Respiratory Medicine and Sleep, Landspitali, National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.
authors.forename: Thorarinn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gislason
authors.affiliation: Dept of Medical Sciences: Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Christer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Janson
authors.affiliation: Dept of medical Science, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Norback
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Research, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Omenaas
authors.affiliation: Section for Environment, Occupation and Health, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Vivi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schlünssen
authors.affiliation: Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kjell
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Torén
authors.affiliation: Dept of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Cecilie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Svanes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004651:Employment; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014896:Welding