Research

Occupation, smoking, and chronic obstructive respiratory disorders: a cross sectional study in an industrial area of Catalonia, Spain

Ángeles Jaén^1,2 , Jan Paul Zock² , Manolis Kogevinas² , Antonio Ferrer³ and Albert Marín³

¹  Centre d'Estudis Epidemiològics sobre la SIDA de Catalunya (CEESCAT), Crta de Canyet s/n, 08916 Badalona, Spain

²  Respiratory and Environmental Health Research Unit, Institut Municipal d'Investigació Mèdica (IMIM), Dr. Aiguader 80, 08003 Barcelona, Spain

³  Hospital de Sabadell. Consorci Hospitalari Parc Taulí, Parc Taulí s/n 08208 Sabadell, Spain

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Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source 2006, 5:2doi:10.1186/1476-069X-5-2

Published:	14 February 2006

Abstract

Background

Few studies have investigated the independent effects of occupational exposures and smoking on chronic bronchitis and airflow obstruction. We assessed the association between lifetime occupational exposures and airflow obstruction in a cross-sectional survey in an urban-industrial area of Catalonia, Spain.

Methods

We interviewed 576 subjects of both sexes aged 20–70 years (response rate 80%) randomly selected from census rolls, using the ATS questionnaire. Forced spirometry was performed by 497 subjects according to ATS normative.

Results

Lifetime occupational exposure to dust, gases or fumes was reported by 52% of the subjects (63% in men, 41% in women). Textile industry was the most frequently reported job in relation to these exposures (39%). Chronic cough, expectoration and wheeze were more prevalent in exposed subjects with odds ratios ranging from 1.7 to 2.0 being highest among never-smokers (2.1 to 4.3). Lung function differences between exposed and unexposed subjects were dependent on duration of exposure, but not on smoking habits. Subjects exposed more than 15 years to dusts, gases or fumes had lower lung function values (FEV₁ -80 ml, 95% confidence interval (CI) -186 to 26; MMEF -163 ml, CI -397 to 71; FEV₁/FVC ratio -1.7%, CI -3.3 to -0.2) than non-exposed.

Conclusion

Chronic bronchitis symptoms and airflow obstruction are associated with occupational exposures in a population with a high employment in the textile industry. Lung function impairment was related to the duration of occupational exposure, being independent of the effect of smoking.