Chronic Respiratory Symptoms Following Deployment-Related Occupational and Environmental Exposures Among US Veterans

Details

• Personal Author:
  Baird CP ; Blanc PD ; Ciminera P ; Fan VS ; Garshick E ; Hart JE ; Ioachimescu O ; Jerrett M ; Kheradmand F ; Korpak A ; Koutrakis P ; Kuschner W ; Montgrain PR ; Nakayama K ; Proctor SP ; Redlich CA ; Smith NL ; Timmons AK ; Wan ES ; Wendt CH ; Wongtrakool C
• Description:
  Objectives: Characterise inhalational exposures during deployment to Afghanistan and Southwest Asia and associations with postdeployment respiratory symptoms. Methods: Participants (n=1960) in this cross-sectional study of US Veterans (Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study 'Service and Health Among Deployed Veterans') completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire regarding 32 deployment exposures, grouped a priori into six categories: burn pit smoke; other combustion sources; engine exhaust; mechanical and desert dusts; toxicants; and military job-related vapours gas, dusts or fumes (VGDF). Responses were scored ordinally (0, 1, 2) according to exposure frequency. Factor analysis supported item reduction and category consolidation yielding 28 exposure items in 5 categories. Generalised linear models with a logit link tested associations with symptoms (by respiratory health questionnaire) adjusting for other covariates. OR were scaled per 20-point score increment (normalised maximum=100). Results: The cohort mean age was 40.7 years with a median deployment duration of 11.7 months. Heavy exposures to multiple inhalational exposures were commonly reported, including burn pit smoke (72.7%) and VGDF (72.0%). The prevalence of dyspnoea, chronic bronchitis and wheeze in the past 12 months was 7.3%, 8.2% and 15.6%, respectively. Burn pit smoke exposure was associated with dyspnoea (OR 1.22; 95% CI 1.06 to 1.47) and chronic bronchitis (OR 1.22; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.44). Exposure to VGDF was associated with dyspnoea (OR 1.29; 95% CI 1.14 to 1.58) and wheeze (OR 1.18; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.35). Conclusion: Exposures to burn pit smoke and military occupational VGDF during deployment were associated with an increased odds of chronic respiratory symptoms among US Veterans. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Dust Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety
• Keywords:
  Cross Sectional Studies Dust Inhalation Exhaust Gases Fumes Military Personnel Occupational Exposure Respiratory Diseases Smoke Inhalation
• ISSN:
  1351-0711
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Connecticut ; District of Columbia ; Georgia ; Maryland ; Massachusetts ; Minnesota ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 6 ; OSHA Region 9 ; Texas ; Washington ; Wisconsin
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  59-65
• Volume:
  81
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20069708
• Citation:
  Occup Environ Med 2024 Feb; 81(2):59-65
• Contact Point Address:
  Dr Eric Garshick, Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep, and Critical Care Medicine Section, Medical Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury, Massachusetts, USA
• Email:
  eric.garshick@va.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2024
• Performing Organization:
  University of California, Berkeley
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b3045dc11b6c424f7f7d21bba2093a83ccaf9bf803121f084d36a19a9ff9217577f5d5754f7e07beda7efe234c286ced8f304443814e13118fe5475cf89dc1c0
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/208081/cdc_208081_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 314.45 KB ]