The occupational exposome and new-onset COPD: longitudinal analyses of two European cohorts
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Occupational exposures may contribute to the development of COPD, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Using an exposome approach in a follow-up design, we aimed to examine the association between the occupational exposome and new-onset COPD in 2 population-based cohorts: the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) with 2 follow-ups (n = 4,087; observations = 6,224) and the CONSTANCES cohort with 1 follow-up (n = 8,255). METHODS: COPD was defined by respiratory symptom(s) and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) below the lower limit of normal. Occupational exposures were assessed through long-term job histories linked to 6 job exposure matrices representing 49 different chemical, ergonomic, and physical exposures. Cumulative occupational exposures until baseline were assigned to each participant. Three analytical approaches were used: Exposome-Wide Association Study (ExWAS), Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), and Boruta Random Forest. RESULTS: In ECRHS, across the 3 analytical approaches, the most important exposures associated with increased COPD were heavy lifting, forward-bent posture, gases and fumes, mineral dust, house dust mites, and kneeling/squatting. In CONSTANCES, the most important exposures were diesel exhaust fumes, respirable crystalline silica, other solvents, organic solvents, indoor cleaning, and mineral dust. Differences in follow-up time and cohort characteristics may explain cohort discrepancies. CONCLUSION: We confirmed the importance of several chemical occupational exposures for COPD and observed new associations between ergonomic and physical occupational exposures and COPD. These associations more likely reflect broader occupational exposure patterns than independent effects and should be interpreted in that context. Despite complexities in interpretation, the results underline the importance of implementing new analytical approaches, as it provide opportunities to identify the interplay of occupational exposures in an occupational exposome context.
Authors: Theresa Kynde, Wenxin Wan, Anne Mette Lund Würtz, Lützen Portengen, Jorunn Kirkeleit, Sheikh M Alif, Andrei Malinovschi, Benedicte Leynaert, Caroline Jane Lodge, Cecilie Svanes, Chantal Raherison, Emeline Lequy, Geza Benke, Hanifa Bouziri, Hans Kromhout, Hans Orru, Hayat Bentouhami, Ioannis Basinas, Isabel Urrutia Landa, Jan-Paul Zock, Jenny Selander, Jesús Martínez-Moratalla Rovira, Judith Garcia-Aymerich, Katarina Kjellberg, Lars Modig, Leopoldo Palacios Gómez, Lidia Casas Ruiz, Maria Albin, Mathias Holm, Nicole Le Moual, Orianne Dumas, Pascal Demoly, Pernilla Wiebert, Rachel Nadif, Susan Peters, Theodore Lytras, Thorarinn Gislason, Valerie Siroux, Victoria Alcaraz-Serrano, Henrik Albert Kolstad, Anjoeka Pronk, Vivi Schlünssen
Institutions: Aarhus University, Utrecht University, National Institute of Occupational Health, University of Bergen, Federation University, The University of Melbourne, Monash University, Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, Inserm, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Université Paris-Saclay, Centre de recherche en Epidémiologie et Santé des Populations, Haukeland University Hospital, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux Population Health, Cohortes épidémiologiques en population, University of Tartu, University of Antwerp, University of Manchester, Hospital de Galdakao, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Karolinska Institutet, Servicio de Salud de Castilla La Mancha, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Region Stockholm, Umeå University, Andalusian Health Service, University of Gothenburg, Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies du numérique, Université de Montpellier, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montpellier, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, European University Cyprus, University of Iceland, National University Hospital of Iceland, Université Grenoble Alpes, Universitat Ramon Llull, Aarhus University Hospital, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: ResMed Foundation, Vårdalstiftelsen, Union Chimique Belge, European Commission, Asthma Foundation of Victoria, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Eesti Teadusfondi, Forskningsrådet för Arbetsliv och Socialvetenskap, Belgian Federal Science Policy Office, Generalitat de Catalunya, Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Hjärt-Lungfonden, Landspítali Háskólasjúkrahús, Põllumajandusministeerium, Ministère de la Santé, Norges Forskningsråd, Medicinska Forskningsrådet, Bergens Forskningsstiftelse, Forskningsrådet om Hälsa, Arbetsliv och Välfärd, Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica, Comité des Maladies Respiratoires de l'Isère, Servicio Andaluz de Salud, Norges Astma- og Allergiforbund, National Health and Medical Research Council, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Helse Vest Regionalt Helseføretak, Horizon 2020, Comissió Interdepartamental de Recerca i Innovació Tecnològica, Caisse nationale de l'Assurance Maladie
OpenAlex ID: W7204451359