A case‐control study of airways obstruction among construction workers |
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| Authors: | John Dement PhD Laura Welch MD Knut Ringen Dr. PH Patricia Quinn BA Anna Chen BS Scott Haas MJ |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina;2. The Center for Construction Research and Training, Silver Spring, Maryland;3. Stoneturn Consultants, Seattle, Washington;4. Zenith American Solutions, Seattle, Washington |
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| Abstract: | Background While smoking is the major cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), occupational exposures to vapors, gases, dusts, and fumes (VGDF) increase COPD risk. This case‐control study estimated the risk of COPD attributable to occupational exposures among construction workers. Methods The study population included 834 cases and 1243 controls participating in a national medical screening program for older construction workers between 1997 and 2013. Qualitative exposure indices were developed based on lifetime work and exposure histories. Results Approximately 18% (95%CI = 2–24%) of COPD risk can be attributed to construction‐related exposures, which are additive to the risk contributed by smoking. A measure of all VGDF exposures combined was a strong predictor of COPD risk. Conclusions Construction workers are at increased risk of COPD as a result of broad and complex effects of many exposures acting independently or interactively. Control methods should be implemented to prevent worker exposures, and smoking cessation should be promoted. Am. J. Ind. Med. 58:1083–1097, 2015. © 2015 The Authors. American Journal of Industrial Medicine Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. |
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| Keywords: | COPD construction workers occupational risks vapors gasses dusts fumes smoking attributable risk |
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