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Occupational exposures to inorganic dust are associated with emphysema : the SCAPIS cohort

Holm, Mathias ; Schioler, Linus ; Dahlman-Hoglund, Anna ; Tinnerberg, Håkan LU ; Andersson, Martin ; Behndig, Annelie ; Blomberg, Anders ; Cederlund, Kerstin ; Eriksson Ström, Jonas and Janson, Christer , et al. (2025) In Occupational and Environmental Medicine 82(9). p.437-443
Abstract

Objectives There is a lack of knowledge about whether occupational exposures increase the risk of emphysema, especially in never-smokers. Our objective was to determine if occupational exposures are associated with emphysema and impaired diffusing capacity. Methods In the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS), persons from the general population aged 50–64 answered a questionnaire and underwent CT of the lung as well as assessment of the diffusing capacity of their lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO), presented as DLCO<lower limit of normal (LLN). Emphysema was defined as emphysema in any part of the lungs. Occupational exposures were assessed by a job exposure matrix based on longest held job. ORs with... (More)

Objectives There is a lack of knowledge about whether occupational exposures increase the risk of emphysema, especially in never-smokers. Our objective was to determine if occupational exposures are associated with emphysema and impaired diffusing capacity. Methods In the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS), persons from the general population aged 50–64 answered a questionnaire and underwent CT of the lung as well as assessment of the diffusing capacity of their lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO), presented as DLCO<lower limit of normal (LLN). Emphysema was defined as emphysema in any part of the lungs. Occupational exposures were assessed by a job exposure matrix based on longest held job. ORs with 95% CIs were calculated using logistic multivariable models. Results In this cross-sectional study (27370 persons including 13981 never-smokers), occupational exposure to inorganic dust was associated with emphysema (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.47), also among never-smokers, (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.11). There were associations with DLCO<LLN for occupational exposure to inorganic dust and vapour and gases. With all exposures in the same model, inorganic dust was associated with emphysema (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.57), and vapour and gases were associated with DLCO<LLN (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.38). In those with emphysema and impaired DLCO, there was an association with inorganic dust (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.28), also among never-smokers (OR 3.79, 95% CI 1.35 to 10.63). Conclusions Occupational exposures to inorganic dust are associated with emphysema. The association is stronger in those with the combination of emphysema and impaired DLCO indicating serious exposure effects in the alveoli.

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publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Dust, Epidemiology, Occupational Health
in
Occupational and Environmental Medicine
volume
82
issue
9
pages
7 pages
publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • pmid:41057247
  • scopus:105018842445
ISSN
1351-0711
DOI
10.1136/oemed-2025-110140
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ Group.
id
f62a88d5-59ec-4b9e-ab22-8f27aee6420b
date added to LUP
2025-12-19 11:17:16
date last changed
2025-12-20 03:00:25
@article{f62a88d5-59ec-4b9e-ab22-8f27aee6420b,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objectives There is a lack of knowledge about whether occupational exposures increase the risk of emphysema, especially in never-smokers. Our objective was to determine if occupational exposures are associated with emphysema and impaired diffusing capacity. Methods In the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS), persons from the general population aged 50–64 answered a questionnaire and underwent CT of the lung as well as assessment of the diffusing capacity of their lungs for carbon monoxide (DL<sub>CO</sub>), presented as DL<sub>CO</sub>&lt;lower limit of normal (LLN). Emphysema was defined as emphysema in any part of the lungs. Occupational exposures were assessed by a job exposure matrix based on longest held job. ORs with 95% CIs were calculated using logistic multivariable models. Results In this cross-sectional study (27370 persons including 13981 never-smokers), occupational exposure to inorganic dust was associated with emphysema (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.47), also among never-smokers, (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.11). There were associations with DL<sub>CO</sub>&lt;LLN for occupational exposure to inorganic dust and vapour and gases. With all exposures in the same model, inorganic dust was associated with emphysema (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.57), and vapour and gases were associated with DL<sub>CO</sub>&lt;LLN (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.38). In those with emphysema and impaired DL<sub>CO</sub>, there was an association with inorganic dust (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.28), also among never-smokers (OR 3.79, 95% CI 1.35 to 10.63). Conclusions Occupational exposures to inorganic dust are associated with emphysema. The association is stronger in those with the combination of emphysema and impaired DL<sub>CO</sub> indicating serious exposure effects in the alveoli.</p>}},
  author       = {{Holm, Mathias and Schioler, Linus and Dahlman-Hoglund, Anna and Tinnerberg, Håkan and Andersson, Martin and Behndig, Annelie and Blomberg, Anders and Cederlund, Kerstin and Eriksson Ström, Jonas and Janson, Christer and Johnsson, Åse and Lindberg, Eva and Lindén, Anders and Ljunggren, Stefan and Malinovschi, Andrei and Olin, Anna Carin and Pesonen, Ida and Sköld, Magnus and Svartengren, Magnus and Tanash, Hanan and Wollmer, Per and Yuan, Xi Ming and Zaigham, Suneela and Torén, Kjell}},
  issn         = {{1351-0711}},
  keywords     = {{Dust; Epidemiology; Occupational Health}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  number       = {{9}},
  pages        = {{437--443}},
  publisher    = {{BMJ Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Occupational and Environmental Medicine}},
  title        = {{Occupational exposures to inorganic dust are associated with emphysema : the SCAPIS cohort}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2025-110140}},
  doi          = {{10.1136/oemed-2025-110140}},
  volume       = {{82}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}