TUESDAY, Nov. 1, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Workplace exposure to gases, dusts, fumes, and solvents is linked to declines in lung capacity, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published online Oct. 24 in Occupational & Environmental Medicine.
Golam Rabbani, M.P.H., from Bangladesh Betar in Dhaka, and colleagues conducted a systematic literature review to identify studies evaluating adverse occupational exposures and age-related lung function decline.
Based on 12 longitudinal studies, researchers found that ever exposures to gases/fumes; vapors, gases, dusts, and fumes; and aromatic solvents were significantly associated with forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) decline. A similar decline in FEV1 was seen for cumulative exposures for these three occupational agents. In fixed-effect models, ever exposures to fungicides and cumulative exposures to biological dust, fungicides, and insecticides were associated with FEV1 decline. There were no statistically significant associations of mineral dust, herbicides, and metals with FEV1 decline.
“Pooled estimates from the longitudinal population-based studies have provided evidence that occupational exposures are associated with FEV1 decline,” the authors write. “Specific exposure control and respiratory health surveillance are required to protect the lung health of the workers.”
One author disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
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