OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURES ESTIMATED BY MEANS OF JOB EXPOSURE MATRICES INRELATION TO LUNG-FUNCTION IN THE PAARC SURVEY

Objectives-The aim of this analysis of the French Cooperative PAARC (P ollution Atmospherique et Affections Respiratoires Chroniques) survey, was to test whether occupational exposures to dusts, gases, or chemic al fumes or to specific hazards, estimated by job exposure matrices, w ere related to a decrease in forced expiratory volume in one second (F EV(1)). Methods-The most recent occupation was recorded in adults, age d 25-59, from non-manual worker households. Analysis was restricted to 10046 subjects whose occupation was encountered at least 10 times in the study and who performed good FEV, tracings. From occupational titl e, exposures to dusts, gases, and chemical fumes, and to specific haza rds were classified in three categories (no, low, and high) with a Bri tish, a French, and an Italian job exposure matrix. Specific hazards w ere analysed for the British and French job exposure matrices for the same 42 specific dusts, gases, and chemical fumes. To limit spurious a ssociations, a selection of seven hazard groups and 12 specific hazard s was set before the start of the analysis. Based on the consistency o f the relations according to sex and the British and French job exposu re matrices, associations of age, height, city, and smoking adjusted F EV, score with occupational exposures were classified as very likely, possible, or unlikely. Results-For the three job exposure matrices and both sexes clear exposure-response relations between the level of exp osure to dusts, gases, and chemical fumes, and a decrease in FEV, were found. Associations with FEV, were classified as very likely for know n hazards such as organic dusts and textile dusts, and not previously recognised hazards such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and detergents, and as possible for solvents, waxes and polishes, and die sel fumes. Associations found for PAHs and solvents were confirmed by the Italian job exposure matrix. Associations remained significant in women, but not in men, after adjustment for educational level. Conclus ions-Hypotheses have been generated for exposure to detergents, PAHs, and solvents, but they need to be interpreted with caution before repl ication. Significant associations found for known risk factors with a decrease in FEV, are arguments for the validity of the matrices. Despi te the expected limitations of job exposure matrices, these results en courage further work to improve exposure assessment by job exposure ma trices.