Occupational exposure to pesticides are associated with fixed airflow obstruction in middle-age

Sheikh M Alif; Shyamali C Dharmage; Geza Benke; Martine Dennekamp; John A Burgess; Jennifer L Perret; Caroline J Lodge; Stephen Morrison; David Peter Johns; Graham G. Giles; Lyle C Gurrin; Paul S Thomas; John Llewelyn Hopper; Richard Wood-Baker; Bruce R Thompson; Iain H Feather; Roel Vermeulen; Hans Kromhout; E Haydn Walters; Michael J Abramson; Melanie Claire Matheson

doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2016-209665

Occupational exposure to pesticides are associated with fixed airflow obstruction in middle-age

Sheikh M Alif, Shyamali C Dharmage, Geza Benke, Martine Dennekamp, John A Burgess, Jennifer L Perret, Caroline J Lodge, Stephen Morrison, David Peter Johns, Graham G. Giles, Lyle C Gurrin, Paul S Thomas, John Llewelyn Hopper, Richard Wood-Baker, Bruce R Thompson, Iain H Feather, Roel Vermeulen, Hans Kromhout, E Haydn Walters, Michael J AbramsonMelanie Claire Matheson

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

RATIONALE: Population-based studies have found evidence of a relationship between occupational exposures and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), but these studies are limited by the use of prebronchodilator spirometry. Establishing this link using postbronchodilator is critical, because occupational exposures are a modifiable risk factor for COPD.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the associations between occupational exposures and fixed airflow obstruction using postbronchodilator spirometry.

METHODS: One thousand three hundred and thirty-five participants were included from 2002 to 2008 follow-up of the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS). Spirometry was performed and lifetime work history calendars were used to collect occupational history. ALOHA plus Job Exposure Matrix was used to assign occupational exposure, and defined as ever exposed and cumulative exposure unit (EU)-years. Fixed airflow obstruction was defined by postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC <0.7 and the lower limit of normal (LLN). Multinomial logistic regressions were used to investigate potential associations while controlling for possible confounders.

RESULTS: Ever exposure to biological dust (relative risk (RR)=1.58, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.48), pesticides (RR=1.74,95% CI 1.00 to 3.07) and herbicides (RR=2.09,95% CI 1.18 to 3.70) were associated with fixed airflow obstruction. Cumulative EU-years to all pesticides (RR=1.11,95% CI 1.00 to 1.25) and herbicides (RR=1.15,95% CI 1.00 to 1.32) were also associated with fixed airflow obstruction. In addition, all pesticides exposure was consistently associated with chronic bronchitis and symptoms that are consistent with airflow obstruction. Ever exposure to mineral dust, gases/fumes and vapours, gases, dust or fumes were only associated with fixed airflow obstruction in non-asthmatics only.

CONCLUSIONS: Pesticides and herbicides exposures were associated with fixed airflow obstruction and chronic bronchitis. Biological dust exposure was also associated with fixed airflow obstruction in non-asthmatics. Minimising occupational exposure to these agents may help to reduce the burden of COPD.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	990-997
Number of pages	8
Journal	Thorax
Volume	72
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2016-209665
Publication status	Published - Nov 2017

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Alif, S. M., Dharmage, S. C., Benke, G., Dennekamp, M., Burgess, J. A., Perret, J. L., Lodge, C. J., Morrison, S., Johns, D. P., Giles, G. G., Gurrin, L. C., Thomas, P. S., Hopper, J. L., Wood-Baker, R., Thompson, B. R., Feather, I. H., Vermeulen, R., Kromhout, H., Walters, E. H., ... Matheson, M. C. (2017). Occupational exposure to pesticides are associated with fixed airflow obstruction in middle-age. Thorax, 72(11), 990-997. https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2016-209665

@article{d135e613aad14513abca2cad711b30ef,

title = "Occupational exposure to pesticides are associated with fixed airflow obstruction in middle-age",

abstract = "RATIONALE: Population-based studies have found evidence of a relationship between occupational exposures and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), but these studies are limited by the use of prebronchodilator spirometry. Establishing this link using postbronchodilator is critical, because occupational exposures are a modifiable risk factor for COPD.OBJECTIVES: To investigate the associations between occupational exposures and fixed airflow obstruction using postbronchodilator spirometry.METHODS: One thousand three hundred and thirty-five participants were included from 2002 to 2008 follow-up of the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS). Spirometry was performed and lifetime work history calendars were used to collect occupational history. ALOHA plus Job Exposure Matrix was used to assign occupational exposure, and defined as ever exposed and cumulative exposure unit (EU)-years. Fixed airflow obstruction was defined by postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC <0.7 and the lower limit of normal (LLN). Multinomial logistic regressions were used to investigate potential associations while controlling for possible confounders.RESULTS: Ever exposure to biological dust (relative risk (RR)=1.58, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.48), pesticides (RR=1.74,95% CI 1.00 to 3.07) and herbicides (RR=2.09,95% CI 1.18 to 3.70) were associated with fixed airflow obstruction. Cumulative EU-years to all pesticides (RR=1.11,95% CI 1.00 to 1.25) and herbicides (RR=1.15,95% CI 1.00 to 1.32) were also associated with fixed airflow obstruction. In addition, all pesticides exposure was consistently associated with chronic bronchitis and symptoms that are consistent with airflow obstruction. Ever exposure to mineral dust, gases/fumes and vapours, gases, dust or fumes were only associated with fixed airflow obstruction in non-asthmatics only.CONCLUSIONS: Pesticides and herbicides exposures were associated with fixed airflow obstruction and chronic bronchitis. Biological dust exposure was also associated with fixed airflow obstruction in non-asthmatics. Minimising occupational exposure to these agents may help to reduce the burden of COPD.",

author = "Alif, {Sheikh M} and Dharmage, {Shyamali C} and Geza Benke and Martine Dennekamp and Burgess, {John A} and Perret, {Jennifer L} and Lodge, {Caroline J} and Stephen Morrison and Johns, {David Peter} and Giles, {Graham G.} and Gurrin, {Lyle C} and Thomas, {Paul S} and Hopper, {John Llewelyn} and Richard Wood-Baker and Thompson, {Bruce R} and Feather, {Iain H} and Roel Vermeulen and Hans Kromhout and Walters, {E Haydn} and Abramson, {Michael J} and Matheson, {Melanie Claire}",

note = "{\textcopyright} Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.",

year = "2017",

month = nov,

doi = "10.1136/thoraxjnl-2016-209665",

language = "English",

volume = "72",

pages = "990--997",

journal = "Thorax",

issn = "0040-6376",

publisher = "BMJ Publishing Group",

number = "11",

}

Alif, SM, Dharmage, SC, Benke, G, Dennekamp, M, Burgess, JA, Perret, JL, Lodge, CJ, Morrison, S, Johns, DP, Giles, GG, Gurrin, LC, Thomas, PS, Hopper, JL, Wood-Baker, R, Thompson, BR, Feather, IH, Vermeulen, R , Kromhout, H, Walters, EH, Abramson, MJ & Matheson, MC 2017, 'Occupational exposure to pesticides are associated with fixed airflow obstruction in middle-age', Thorax, vol. 72, no. 11, pp. 990-997. https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2016-209665

TY - JOUR

T1 - Occupational exposure to pesticides are associated with fixed airflow obstruction in middle-age

AU - Alif, Sheikh M

AU - Dharmage, Shyamali C

AU - Benke, Geza

AU - Dennekamp, Martine

AU - Burgess, John A

AU - Perret, Jennifer L

AU - Lodge, Caroline J

AU - Morrison, Stephen

AU - Johns, David Peter

AU - Giles, Graham G.

AU - Gurrin, Lyle C

AU - Thomas, Paul S

AU - Hopper, John Llewelyn

AU - Wood-Baker, Richard

AU - Thompson, Bruce R

AU - Feather, Iain H

AU - Vermeulen, Roel

AU - Kromhout, Hans

AU - Walters, E Haydn

AU - Abramson, Michael J

AU - Matheson, Melanie Claire

PY - 2017/11

Y1 - 2017/11

N2 - RATIONALE: Population-based studies have found evidence of a relationship between occupational exposures and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), but these studies are limited by the use of prebronchodilator spirometry. Establishing this link using postbronchodilator is critical, because occupational exposures are a modifiable risk factor for COPD.OBJECTIVES: To investigate the associations between occupational exposures and fixed airflow obstruction using postbronchodilator spirometry.METHODS: One thousand three hundred and thirty-five participants were included from 2002 to 2008 follow-up of the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS). Spirometry was performed and lifetime work history calendars were used to collect occupational history. ALOHA plus Job Exposure Matrix was used to assign occupational exposure, and defined as ever exposed and cumulative exposure unit (EU)-years. Fixed airflow obstruction was defined by postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC <0.7 and the lower limit of normal (LLN). Multinomial logistic regressions were used to investigate potential associations while controlling for possible confounders.RESULTS: Ever exposure to biological dust (relative risk (RR)=1.58, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.48), pesticides (RR=1.74,95% CI 1.00 to 3.07) and herbicides (RR=2.09,95% CI 1.18 to 3.70) were associated with fixed airflow obstruction. Cumulative EU-years to all pesticides (RR=1.11,95% CI 1.00 to 1.25) and herbicides (RR=1.15,95% CI 1.00 to 1.32) were also associated with fixed airflow obstruction. In addition, all pesticides exposure was consistently associated with chronic bronchitis and symptoms that are consistent with airflow obstruction. Ever exposure to mineral dust, gases/fumes and vapours, gases, dust or fumes were only associated with fixed airflow obstruction in non-asthmatics only.CONCLUSIONS: Pesticides and herbicides exposures were associated with fixed airflow obstruction and chronic bronchitis. Biological dust exposure was also associated with fixed airflow obstruction in non-asthmatics. Minimising occupational exposure to these agents may help to reduce the burden of COPD.

AB - RATIONALE: Population-based studies have found evidence of a relationship between occupational exposures and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), but these studies are limited by the use of prebronchodilator spirometry. Establishing this link using postbronchodilator is critical, because occupational exposures are a modifiable risk factor for COPD.OBJECTIVES: To investigate the associations between occupational exposures and fixed airflow obstruction using postbronchodilator spirometry.METHODS: One thousand three hundred and thirty-five participants were included from 2002 to 2008 follow-up of the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS). Spirometry was performed and lifetime work history calendars were used to collect occupational history. ALOHA plus Job Exposure Matrix was used to assign occupational exposure, and defined as ever exposed and cumulative exposure unit (EU)-years. Fixed airflow obstruction was defined by postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC <0.7 and the lower limit of normal (LLN). Multinomial logistic regressions were used to investigate potential associations while controlling for possible confounders.RESULTS: Ever exposure to biological dust (relative risk (RR)=1.58, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.48), pesticides (RR=1.74,95% CI 1.00 to 3.07) and herbicides (RR=2.09,95% CI 1.18 to 3.70) were associated with fixed airflow obstruction. Cumulative EU-years to all pesticides (RR=1.11,95% CI 1.00 to 1.25) and herbicides (RR=1.15,95% CI 1.00 to 1.32) were also associated with fixed airflow obstruction. In addition, all pesticides exposure was consistently associated with chronic bronchitis and symptoms that are consistent with airflow obstruction. Ever exposure to mineral dust, gases/fumes and vapours, gases, dust or fumes were only associated with fixed airflow obstruction in non-asthmatics only.CONCLUSIONS: Pesticides and herbicides exposures were associated with fixed airflow obstruction and chronic bronchitis. Biological dust exposure was also associated with fixed airflow obstruction in non-asthmatics. Minimising occupational exposure to these agents may help to reduce the burden of COPD.

U2 - 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2016-209665

DO - 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2016-209665

M3 - Article

C2 - 28687678

SN - 0040-6376

VL - 72

SP - 990

EP - 997

JO - Thorax

JF - Thorax

IS - 11

ER -

Occupational exposure to pesticides are associated with fixed airflow obstruction in middle-age

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