Civilian Occupational Exposure to Vapors, Gas, Dust, or Fumes and Respiratory Health Among United States Military Veterans.

BACKGROUND

We investigated associations of self-reported and job exposure matrix (JEM) assigned civilian occupational exposure to vapors, gas, dust, or fumes (VGDF) with respiratory symptoms among previously deployed US Veterans.

METHODS

An interviewer-administered questionnaire ascertained self-reported civilian occupational VGDF exposure. A JEM categorized occupational VGDF based on longest-held civilian occupation and industry of employment. Models tested associations of self-reported and JEM-assigned VGDF with dyspnea, chronic bronchitis (CB), or wheeze, adjusting for smoking and other covariates.

RESULTS

Among 1868 participants (mean age 37.8 ± 13.1 years); 1654 (89%) males; the median occupational duration was 6 years. The prevalence of JEM-assigned VGDF exposure or self-reported civilian occupational VGDF exposure was 31% for both, with modest agreement between them (kappa 0.48). Any JEM VGDF exposure was statistically significantly associated with increased odds of CB (odds ratio [OR]) 1.75; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.05-2.20). Self-reported VGDF exposure was less strongly associated with increased CB odds (OR 1.18; 95% CI 0.85-1.86). JEM alone demonstrated a statistically significant association with CB (OR 1.77; 95% CI 1.31-2.68); combined JEM and self-reported VGDF demonstrated a similar but not statistically significant association with CB (OR 1.68; 95% CI 0.90-2.35). Self-reported VGDF alone was not positively associated with CB, dyspnea, or wheeze.

CONCLUSIONS

Civilian occupational VGDF exposures (assessed by self-report and JEM) were common. Exposure to VGDF was most consistently associated with increased odds of CB, underscoring the need to consider civilian occupational factors when assessing Veterans' health.