By constantly inhaling dust and fumes, coming from vapors, gases and solvents, in one’s workplace, one would be more at risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.
- In 2019, 385,919 cases of rheumatoid arthritis were recorded.
- Exposure to dust or fumes in the workplace was associated with a 40% increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis in men.
- The strongest associations were observed for exposures lasting 8 to 15 years.
Dysregulation of the immune system, genetic predisposition, sex of the patient… Several factors favor the occurrence of rheumatoid arthritis, an inflammatory and chronic pathology that affects several joints. In detail, it is an autoimmune disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies directed against the synovial membrane of the joints.
Inhalation of dust and fumes: what impact on health?
“While we know that smoking increases the risk of developing it, we do not know the impact of inhaling dust and fumes in the workplace”, said researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (USA). To find out its effects, they conducted a study published in the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. To carry out their work, the team used data from a Swedish survey of rheumatoid arthritis. The latter included 4,033 people newly diagnosed between 1996 and 2017 and 6,485 healthy adults.
Each volunteer was assigned a genetic risk score, based on whether or not they carried genes that could increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. The occupational and personal history of the participants was used to assess their exposure to 32 atmospheric agents in their workplace.
17 atmospheric agents linked to an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis
Almost three-quarters of people with rheumatoid arthritis who tested positive (73%) or negative (72%) for the absence of antibodies to citrullinated proteins had been exposed to at least one dust or fume in their workplace, compared to about two-thirds (67%) of people in the control group.
According to the results, exposure to dust and fumes in the workplace increased the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis by 25%, but it also seemed to reinforce the harmful effect of smoking and genetic susceptibility to the disease.
In detail, 17 of 32 atmospheric agents, including quartz, asbestos, diesel smoke, gasoline smoke, carbon monoxide and fungicides, were strongly associated with an increased risk of developing this inflammatory disease of the joints. “Inhalants in the workplace could act as important triggers in the development of rheumatoid arthritis and interact with smoking and genetic susceptibility to this condition. Our study highlights the importance of using respiratory protection, especially for people genetically predisposed to the disease”, concluded the authors in a statement.
