Occupational exposome analyses: an example based on lung function decline in the ECRHS study: abstract
article
Wan, W.
Møller Kynde, T.
Portengen, L.
Lund Würtz, A.M.
Alif, S.M.
Leynaert, B.
Janson, C.
Lodge, C.J.
Svanes, C.
Jarvis, D.
Benke, G.
Kolstad, H.
Bentouhami, H.
Basinas, I.
Urrutia Landa, I.
Garcia-Aymerich, J.
Kirkeleit, J.
Martínez-Moratalla Rovira, J.
Zock, J.P.
Selander, J.
Casas Ruiz, L.
Modig, L.
Palacios Gómez, L.
Albin, M.
Holm, M.
Demoly, P.
Gislason, T.
Lytras, T.
Alcaraz-Serrano, V.
Siroux, V.
Peters, S.
Kromhout, H.
Vermeulen, R.
Schlünssen, V.
Pronk, A.
Objective Occupational exposures have been linked to accelerated decline in lung function. We used an exposome approach to explore the complex associations reflecting the multifactorial aetiology of longitudinal changes in respiratory function. Material and Methods We analysed data from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) (n=5,306), a prospective multicentre cohort with over 20 years of follow-up, to explore associations between occupational exposures and lung function decline. Participants’ job records were linked to multiple job-exposure matrices, covering 49 exposures classified into 11 groups. We applied the Super Learner algorithm to model the multipollutant relationships and to identify key exposure groups. G-computation was used to estimate the average causal effects (ACE). Models accounted for centre, age, sex, smoking, education, early-life factors, home environment, and urban exposures. Results Strong correlations were observed between exposures, particularly within specific sectors. Results from the Super Learner identified ‘Ergonomic Stressors’, ‘Physical Stressors’, ‘Gaseous Substances and Fumes’, and ‘Particulates and Fibrous Dusts’ as potentially important predictors of excess forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1 decline, but not of decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) or the FEV1/FVC ratio. Estimated ACEs suggested potential exposure-dependent associations between these groups (excluding ‘Ergonomic Stressors’) and accelerated FEV1 decline, although confidence intervals overlapped the null. Associations were weaker for FVC and FEV1/FVC ratio. Conclusion We identified several exposure groups as potential candidates for accelerated longitudinal lung function decline, highlighting the value of advanced exposome analytics in uncovering complex occupational determinants of respiratory health.
Abstract from: 30th Epidemiology in Occupational Health Conference (EPICOH 2025), Hosted by Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, 6–9 OCTOBER 2025, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Abstract from: 30th Epidemiology in Occupational Health Conference (EPICOH 2025), Hosted by Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, 6–9 OCTOBER 2025, Utrecht, the Netherlands
TNO Identifier
1018920
Source
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 82(suppl. 2), pp. A47.
Pages
A47
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