Jorunn Kirkeleit, Rune Hoff, Nils Petter Skaugset, Anne Straumfors, Karl-Christian Nordby

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association between cumulative wood dust exposure and risk of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in the Norwegian working population. Material and methods: The Nor-Work cohort was utilised in this prospective, register-based cohort study. The study population was comprised of 1,864,416 men and 1,720,597 women with at least one year of registered employment between 1970 and 2020. Cumulative exposure to wood dust was calculated using a job exposure matrix (Wood-JEM) connected to registered occupation. Incident cases of silicosis (ICD-10 code J62), hypersensititvity pneumonitis (J67), radiation-induced ILD (J70.1), drug-induced ILD (J70.2-J70.4), idiopathic fibrotic ILD (J84), and connective-tissue ILD (J99) were identified in the Norwegian Patient Registry in the period 2010-2020. Prevalent cases in 2008 and 2009 were excluded. Discrete time hazard models were used to calculate incidence risk ratios (IRR) according to cumulative exposure group (0 years (ref), 1-5 years, 6-10 years, >10 years). Analyses were stratified by gender and adjusted for age at baseline, calendar year, history of connective tissue disease, and educational level. Results: A dose-response association was observed for men with less than 10 years of exposure to wood dust (1-5 years: IRR 1.28, 95% CI 1.13-1.46; 6-10 years: IRR 1.73, 95% CI 1.46-2.04), but not for men with over 10 years of cumulative exposure (IRR 1.49, 95% CI 1.24-1.79). No association was found between cumulative exposure and ILD incidence among women. Conclusion: This is the first register-based Norwegian study to investigate the association between wood dust exposure and ILDs. Cumulative exposure to wood dust was associated with an increased risk of ILDs among men in the Norwegian working population. Further research is planned to investigate if there are differences between subtypes of ILD along with other respiratory conditions. Funding: This study received financial support from the IA industry program for the building and construction industry.

Emilie Pacheco Da Silva , Emmanuel Chevallier , Laurent Orsi , Etienne Sevin , Corinne Mandin , Valérie Siroux , Orianne Dumas

Abstract

While adverse respiratory health effects of exposure to disinfectants and cleaning products (DCPs) are well-documented in healthcare workers/cleaners, no study was performed on daycare workers. Moreover, few studies have identified health related specific compounds. We evaluated associations between occupational exposures to DCPs (composition/Ménag’Score®-Health) and asthma in daycare workers from the French CRESPI study. The use of DCPs in daycares was assessed using a smartphone application, allowing to scan barcodes and collect names, frequency of use. Chemical compounds of DCPs allowed an expert from the French National Institute for Consumption to classify them as quaternary ammonium compounds (QUATS), irritants and sensitizers, using the European Union Classification Labelling Packaging regulation. Among 608 scanned DCPs, 323 had an exhaustive ingredient list (53%), for which a Ménag’Score®-Health index (A:no risk, E:high risk) was assigned. We studied associations between weekly use of DCPs (≥2 versus 0-1), number of ingredients, Ménag’Score®-Health (C/D/E versus no weekly use/A/B) and asthma symptoms (0-5) using binomial negative regressions adjusted for age and smoking status, and accounted for center effect. Analyses were performed in 311 women (43 years, current smokers: 11%, child care: 69%, administrative staff: 24%, cleaner/cooker: 7%). Weekly use of ≥2DCPs (70%, Mean Score Ratio=1.50[1.10-2.04]) was associated with asthma. No significant association was observed for ≥3irritants (81%, MSR=1.23[0.90-1.68]), ≥1sensitizer (76%, MSR=1.05[0.79-1.39]), ≥1QUAT (63%, MSR=1.20[0.92-1.55]). Weekly use of DCPs with a Ménag’Score®-Health C/D/E (53%) was non-significantly associated with asthma (MSR=1.33[0.91-1.93], n=231). Weekly exposures to various DCPs in daycares was associated with an increased risk of asthma.