Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a respiratory disease involving scarring of the lungs resulting in reduced lung capacity. The term idiopathic is used to describe conditions of an unknown cause, but family history and smoking are both thought to be risk factors for IPF. This disease is the most common fibrotic lung disease and is similar to silicosis and asbestosis. IPF has poor five-year survival and treatment options are limited.
Possible occupational risk factors
Because there is not yet a comprehensive understanding of the causes of IPF, the ODSS project sought to understand what occupations and industries were at an increased risk of this disease as an important step toward prevention. Metal and wood dusts are important possible occupational risk factors for IPF.
The greatest risks of IPF were observed among workers employed in the mining, forestry and papermaking, and food and beverage sectors.
The mining industry overall is at 2 times the risk of IPF. Groups within this industry with elevated risks include the gold quartz and uranium mining sectors, as well as drilling and blasting occupations and cutting and loading occupations. These occupations and industries would likely have significant dust exposure, including metals, silica, and diesel engine exhaust.
Workers within the logging and pulp and papermaking industries are at increased risks of IPF. These workers are likely exposed to high levels of wood dust, which is a possible risk factor for IPF.
Cooks and chefs were at an increased risk of IPF and could be exposed to organic dusts and cooking fumes. Organic dusts such as flour and confectionary materials are known risk factors for other respiratory conditions, but it is not known whether they pose a risk for IPF.
Figure 1. Risk of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis among workers employed in each industry group relative to all others, Occupational Disease Surveillance System (ODSS), 2006-2016
The hazard ratio is an estimate of the average time to diagnosis among workers in each industry/occupation group divided by that in all others during the study period. Hazard ratios above 1.00 indicate a greater risk of disease in a given group compared to all others. Estimates are adjusted for birth year and sex. The width of the 95% Confidence Interval (CI) is based on the number of cases in each group (more cases narrows the interval).
Figure 2. Risk of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis among workers employed in each occupation group relative to all others, Occupational Disease Surveillance System (ODSS), 2006-2016
