Airborne occupational exposures and (changes in) lung function in the Lifelines Cohort study

Abstract

Background: The association between airborne occupational exposures and lung function level is inconsistent in the general population. Moreover, little is known about the association between occupational exposures and annual lung function decline. We investigated the association between occupational exposures and lung function level and annual decline in the population-based Lifelines cohort study. Methods: We included 55 631 adults with baseline spirometry and reliable job code (13 759 of these subjects were aged ≥ 30 years and had spirometry after 4.5 years of follow-up). Job exposure in the current or last-held job at baseline was estimated with the ALOHA+ job exposure matrix. Linear regression analyses adjusted for covariates were used to test the association between each occupational exposure (biological dust, mineral dust, gases/fumes, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, aromatic, chlorinated, other solvents, and metals) and lung function level and decline. Interactions were used to test effect-modification by sex or smoking. Results: In total, seven occupational exposures were associated with lower lung function level (e.g. B (95%CI) for high exposure vs no exposure to biological dust on FEV1/FVC: -0.58 (-0.86;-0.33)). The effects were larger in males and smokers (e.g. high exposure to insecticides on FEV1: Bmale*exposure= -111 (-210;-12), Bcurrentsmoker*exposure= -224 (-449;1)). No association between occupational exposures and annual lung function decline was found. Conclusion: Airborne occupational exposures are associated with lower lung function level but not with a faster lung function decline. These negative effects are more pronounced in males and smokers.