Table 3.
HR and 95% CI of new-onset asthma in job-exposure groups of men according to the JEM for northern Europe adjusted for age and atopy. Atopics and non-atopics are adjusted for age.
| Job-exposure groups (men) | Person-years all | AsthmaAll/atopics/non atopics | All exposed, adjusteda HR (95% CI) | Atopics, adjustedb HR (95% CI) | Non-atopics, adjustedb HR (95% CI) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Referents | 51 541 | 59/33/26 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Any exposure in groups 1–4 | 48 430 | 70/34 /36 | 1.4 | 0.96–1.9 | 1.3 | 0.8–2.1 | 1.5 | 0.9–2.4 |
| 1. HMW agents | 8770 | 15/7/8 | 1.5 | 0.9–2.7 | 1.3 | 0.6–3.0 | 1.8 | 0.8–3.9 |
| Plant-associated antigens, cereal, tobacco, etc. | 1352 | 5/2/3 | 3.6 | 1.4–9.0 | NAc | NAc | 4.1 | 1.2–13.6 |
| Arthropods, mites, bio-aerosols, enzymes | 3948 | 6/3/3 | 1.3 | 0.6–3.1 | 1.2 | 0.4–3.9 | 1.5 | 0.4–4.8 |
| Latex protein | 2618 | 5/3/2 | 1.7 | 0.7–4.2 | 1.8 | 0.6–7.0 | NA | NA |
| 2. LMW agents | 11 249 | 17/5/12 | 1.4 | 0.8–2.3 | 0.8 | 0.3–2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0–4.1 |
| Reactive chemicals | 2764 | 3/1/2 | 1.0 | 0.3–3.1 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Acrylates | 4078 | 8/1/7 | 1.8 | 0.8–3.7 | NA | NA | 3.3 | 1.4–7.5 |
| Epoxy chemicals | 4249 | 11/3/8 | 2.4 | 1.3–4.5 | 1.3 | 0.4–4.3 | 3.6 | 1.6–7.9 |
| Diisocyanates | 6158 | 14/5/9 | 2.1 | 1.2–3.7 | 1.5 | 0.6–3.8 | 2.8 | 1.3–6.0 |
| 3. Irritating agents | 35 272 | 53/27/26 | 1.4 | 0.96–2.0d | 1.3 | 0.8–2.3 | 1.5 | 0.9–2.6 |
| Cleaning agents | 1749 | 6/2/4 | 2.6 | 1.1–6.1d | NA | NA | 4.1 | 1.4–12.1 |
| Wood and paper dusts | 5367 | 7/5/2 | 1.2 | 0.5–2.5 | 1.5 | 0.6–3.8 | 0.7 | 0.2–3.1 |
| Inorganic dusts and fumes | 16 517 | 26/12/14 | 1.5 | 0.9–2.3 | 1.3 | 0.7–2.6 | 1.6 | 0.9–3.1 |
| Metal working fluids | 3843 | 4/1/3 | 0.9 | 0.3–2.6 | NA | NA | 1.5 | 0.5–4.9 |
| Vehicle/motor exhaust | 13319 | 15/6/9 | 1.0 | 0.6–1.8 | 0.7 | 0.3–1.8 | 1.3 | 0.6–2.8 |
| ETS | 1974 | 4/3/1 | 1.5 | 0.6–4.3 | 1.8 | 0.5–5.9 | NA | NA |
| 4. Accidental peak exposure to irritants | 3945 | 11/5/6 | 2.4 | 1.3–4.7 | 2.0 | 0.8–5.2 | 3.0 | 1.2–7.2 |
| 5. Uncertain or low exposed | 7565 | 7/2/5 | 0.8 | 0.4–1.8 | NA | NA | 1.4 | 0.5–3.6 |
aadjusted for age and atopy.
badjusted for age.
cNA= not applicable (<3 asthma cases).
dnot significant when adjusted also for smoking.
No asthma cases were seen in men exposed to HMW agents from pharmaceutical product antigens or irritating agents from textile dust (355 and 187 p-years in the respective sub group).
Less than 3 asthma cases were seen in male exposed to animal derived antigens (2130 p-years).