The association of forced expiratory volume in one second with occupational exposures in a longitudinal study of adults in a rural community in Iowa.

Purpose: The Keokuk County Rural Health Study (KCRHS) is a longitudinal population-based study conducted in rural Iowa. A prior analysis of enrollment data identified an association of airflow obstruction with occupational exposures only among cigarette smokers. The current study used spirometry data from all three rounds to investigate whether level of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV) and longitudinal change in FEV were associated with occupational vapor-gas, dust, and fumes (VGDF) exposures, and whether these associations were modified by smoking.

The association of chronic bronchitis and airflow obstruction with lifetime and current farm activities in a sample of rural adults in Iowa.

Objective: Farmers have an increased risk for chronic bronchitis and airflow obstruction. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of these health outcomes with farm activities.

Methods: We evaluated the Keokuk County Rural Health Study (KCRHS) enrollment data for farm activities and the two health outcomes chronic bronchitis based on self-reported symptoms and airflow obstruction based on spirometry.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and U.S. Workers: Prevalence, Trends, and Attributable Cases Associated With Work.

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. Workplace exposures are important modifiable contributors to the burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Estimation of the number of workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica by industry: Analysis of OSHA compliance data (1979-2015).

Background: Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) can potentially cause silicosis, lung cancer, and renal failure. The current study estimates the percentages of workers potentially overexposed to concentrations of RCS dust and silicosis proportional mortality rates (PMRs) by industry.

Methods: Occupational Safety and Health Administration compliance inspection sampling data for RCS collected during 1979 to 2015 were used to estimate percentages of workers exposed.

Respirable coal mine dust at surface mines, United States, 1982-2017.

Background: Exposure to respirable coal mine dust can cause pneumoconiosis, an irreversible lung disease that can be debilitating. The mass concentration and quartz mass percent of respirable coal mine dust samples (annually, by occupation, by geographic region) from surface coal mines and surface facilities at U.S.

Respirable coal mine dust in underground mines, United States, 1982-2017.

Background: This study summarized the mass concentration and quartz mass percent of respirable coal mine dust samples (annually, by district, and by occupation) from underground coal mines during 1982-2017.

Methods: Respirable dust and quartz data collected and analyzed by Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) were summarized by year, coal mining occupation, and geographical area. The older (before August 2016) 2.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Prevalence Among Adults Who Have Never Smoked, by Industry and Occupation - United States, 2013-2017.

Tobacco smoking is a major risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a debilitating respiratory condition with high mortality and morbidity (1,2). However, an estimated 24% of adults with COPD have never smoked (3,4). Among these persons, 26%-53% of COPD can be attributed to workplace exposures, including dust, fumes, gases, vapors, and secondhand smoke exposure (4-6).

Occupational exposure and airflow obstruction and self-reported COPD among ever-employed US adults using a COPD-job exposure matrix.

Introduction: This study examined the association of spirometry-defined airflow obstruction and self-reported COPD defined as self-reported doctor diagnosed chronic bronchitis or emphysema, with occupational exposure among ever-employed US adults.

Methods: Data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2008 to 2011-2012, a nationally representative study of the non-institutionalized civilian US population. Reported current and/or longest held job were used to create prevalence estimates and prevalence odds ratios (PORs) (adjusted for age, gender, race, and smoking status) for airflow obstruction and self-reported COPD by occupational exposure, determined using both NHANES participants' self-reported exposures and eight categories of COPD job exposure matrix (JEM) assigned exposures.

Airflow obstruction among ever-employed U.S. adults aged 18-79 years by industry and occupation: NHANES 2007-2008 to 2011-2012.

Introduction: This study estimated the prevalence of spirometry-defined airflow obstruction by industry and occupation and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among ever-employed U.S. adults.

Air pollution and subclinical interstitial lung disease: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) air-lung study.

We studied whether ambient air pollution is associated with interstitial lung abnormalities (ILAs) and high attenuation areas (HAAs), which are qualitative and quantitative measurements of subclinical interstitial lung disease (ILD) on computed tomography (CT).We performed analyses of community-based dwellers enrolled in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) study. We used cohort-specific spatio-temporal models to estimate ambient pollution (fine particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO) and ozone (O)) at each home.

Longitudinal and Cross-sectional Analyses of Lung Function in Toluene Diisocyanate Production Workers.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate lung function among toluene diisocyanate (TDI) production workers.

Methods: One hundred ninety-seven U.S workers performed spirometry from 2006 through 2012.

Incidence of Occupational Asthma and Exposure to Toluene Diisocyanate in the United States Toluene Diisocyanate Production Industry.

Objective: This study examines asthma risk in facilities producing toluene diisocyanate (TDI).

Methods: A total of 197 workers were monitored from 2007 to 2012. TDI air concentrations were used to estimate exposures.

Medical Monitoring for Occupational Asthma Among Toluene Diisocyanate Production Workers in the United States.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe a study of medical monitoring methods and lessons learned in detecting health outcomes in U.S. plants producing toluene diisocyanate (TDI).

Toluene Diisocyanate Exposure: Exposure Assessment and Development of Cross-Facility Similar Exposure Groups Among Toluene Diisocyanate Production Plants.

Objective: The objective of this study was to characterize workplace toluene diisocyanate (TDI) exposures using standardized industrial hygiene exposure assessment procedures for use in a prospective epidemiologic study of occupational asthma.

Methods: Over 2300 representative routine full shift time-weighted average (TWA) and short-term high potential exposure tasks (HPETs) air samples in groups across three TDI plants were collected over a nearly 7-year period.

Results: Data-derived similar exposure groups (SuperSEGs) were developed across the plants based on TWA sampling using cluster analysis.

Occupational Exposure to Vapor-Gas, Dust, and Fumes in a Cohort of Rural Adults in Iowa Compared with a Cohort of Urban Adults.

Problem/condition: Many rural residents work in the field of agriculture; however, employment in nonagricultural jobs also is common. Because previous studies in rural communities often have focused on agricultural workers, much less is known about the occupational exposures in other types of jobs in rural settings. Characterizing airborne occupational exposures that can contribute to respiratory diseases is important so that differences between rural and urban working populations can be assessed.

Occupational Exposures and Subclinical Interstitial Lung Disease. The MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) Air and Lung Studies.

Rationale: The impact of a broad range of occupational exposures on subclinical interstitial lung disease (ILD) has not been studied.

Objectives: To determine whether occupational exposures to vapors, gas, dust, and fumes (VGDF) are associated with high-attenuation areas (HAA) and interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA), which are quantitative and qualitative computed tomography (CT)-based measurements of subclinical ILD, respectively.

Methods: We performed analyses of participants enrolled in MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis), a population-based cohort aged 45-84 years at recruitment.

Occupational exposures and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): comparison of a COPD-specific job exposure matrix and expert-evaluated occupational exposures.

Objectives: To compare the occupational exposure levels assigned by our National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-specific job exposure matrix (NIOSH COPD JEM) and by expert evaluation of detailed occupational information for various jobs held by members of an integrated health plan in the Northwest USA.

Methods: We analysed data from a prior study examining COPD and occupational exposures. Jobs were assigned exposure levels using 2 methods: (1) the COPD JEM and (2) expert evaluation.

Prevalence of airflow obstruction among ever-employed US adults aged 18-79 years by longest held occupation group: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2008.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of spirometry-defined airflow obstruction among ever-employed US adults.

Methods: Data from the 2007 to 2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for adults 18-79 years with valid spirometry and longest held occupation were analysed. The age-standardised prevalence of spirometry-defined airflow obstruction was estimated overall and by smoking status.

Changes in prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma in the US population and associated risk factors.

Chronic lower airway diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, are currently the third leading cause of death in the United States. We aimed to evaluate changes in prevalence of and risk factors for COPD and asthma among the US adult population. We evaluated changes in prevalence of self-reported doctor-diagnosed COPD (i.

Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among US working adults aged 40 to 70 years. National Health Interview Survey data 2004 to 2011.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence and prevalence odds ratios of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among US workers by major occupational groups.

Methods: The 2004 to 2011 National Health Interview Survey data for working adults 40 to 70 years old was analyzed to estimate the prevalence of COPD by major occupational groups. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations between COPD (chronic bronchitis or emphysema) and occupations.

Prevalence of Airflow Obstruction in U.S. Adults Aged 40-79 Years: NHANES Data 1988-1994 and 2007-2010.

Background: The study evaluated the change in the prevalence of airflow obstruction in the U.S. population 40-79 years of age from years 1988-1994 to 2007-2010.

Occupational risk factors for COPD phenotypes in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) Lung Study.

Introduction: The contribution of occupational exposure to the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD in population-based studies is of interest. We compared the performance of self-reported exposure to a newly developed JEM in exposure-response evaluation.

Methods: We used cross-sectional data from Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a population-based sample of 45-84 year olds free of clinical cardiovascular disease at baseline.

Estimating the U.S. prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2010.

Background: During 2007-2010, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted a spirometry component which obtained pre-bronchodilator pulmonary lung function data on a nationally representative sample of US adults aged 6-79 years and post-bronchodilator pulmonary lung function data for the subset of adults with airflow limitation. The goals of this study were to 1) compute prevalence estimates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using pre-bronchodilator and post-bronchodilator spirometry measurements and fixed ratio and lower limit of normal (LLN) diagnostic criteria and 2) examine the potential impact of nonresponse on the estimates.

Methods: This analysis was limited to those aged 40-79 years who were eligible for NHANES pre-bronchodilator spirometry (n=7,104).