Occupational exposure to vapors, gasses, dusts, and fumes in relation to causes of death during 24 years in Helsinki, Finland

Purpose Environmental particulate matter (PM) exposure has been shown to cause excess all-cause and disease-specific mortality. Our aim was to compare disease-specific mortality by estimated occupational exposure to vapors, gasses, dusts, and fumes (VGDF). Methods The data source is the Helsinki part of the population-based FinEsS study on chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases including information on age, education level, main occupation, sex, and tobacco smoking combined with death registry information. We compared estimated VGDF exposure to mortality using adjusted competing-risks regression for disease-specific survival analysis for a 24-year follow-up. Results Compared to the no-exposure group, the high occupational VGDF exposure group had sub-hazard ratios (sHR) of 1.7 (95% CI 1.3–2.2) for all cardiovascular-related and sHR 2.1 (1.5–3.9) for just coronary artery-related mortality. It also had sHR 1.7 (1.0–2.8) for Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia-related mortality and sHR 1.7(1.2–2.4) for all respiratory disease-related mortality. Conclusion Long-term occupational exposure to VGDF increased the hazard of mortality- to cardiovascular-, respiratory-, and dementia-related causes. This emphasizes the need for minimizing occupational long-term respiratory exposure to dust, gasses, and fumes.