title: Occupational exposure to chemicals drives the increased risk of asthma and rhinitis observed for exposure to vapours, gas, dust and fumes: a cross-sectional population-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Occupational exposure to the composite measure vapours, gases, dusts and fumes (VGDF), contribute to the burden of asthma and rhinitis. The objective was to evaluate occupational exposure to VGDF, which is further divided into the components chemicals, organic and inorganic dust in relation to asthma and rhinitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Previously examined participants from three population-based cohorts in the Obstructive Lung disease In Northern Sweden (OLIN) studies were re-examined during 2002-2004. In total, 4036 participated in a structured interview and answered a questionnaire on occupational exposures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Occupational exposure to VGDF increased the risk of asthma, and concomitant asthma and rhinitis. Exposure to chemicals, but not dust, showed a similar pattern. Exposure to chemicals increased the risks (OR, 95% CI) of rhinitis without asthma (1.29, 1.10 to 1.52), asthma without rhinitis (1.42, 1.15 to 1.77) and concomitant asthma and rhinitis (1.60, 1.31 to 1.96) when adjusted for confounders such as age, smoking habits, body mass index and sex. The association between exposure to chemicals and asthma and rhinitis remained independent of exposure to dust and was also so when excluding exposure to isocyanates and welding fumes. The results were similar for women and men, as well as for never-smokers and participants without a history of allergy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this cross-sectional population-based study, occupational exposure to chemicals contributed substantially to the increased risk of asthma and rhinitis observed for occupational exposure to VGDF.
authors.affiliation: The OLIN unit, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schyllert
authors.affiliation: The OLIN unit, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rönmark
authors.affiliation: The OLIN unit, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.affiliation: The OLIN unit, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hedlund
authors.affiliation: Krefting Research Centre, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lundbäck
authors.affiliation: The OLIN unit, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Linnea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hedman
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004391:Dust; D005260:Female; D005740:Gases / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007287:Inorganic Chemicals / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D005740:Gases; D007287:Inorganic Chemicals; D009930:Organic Chemicals
keywords: Materials; exposures and occupational groups