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Table 4 Cross-sectional general population studies published June 1999–2007 where the population attributable risk (PAR) for occupational exposures and asthma was either published or derived.

From: Asthma caused by occupational exposures is common – A systematic analysis of estimates of the population-attributable fraction

Ref

Subject n

Case n

Country

Asthma definition

Occupational exposure

PAR

30

2,974

166

Canada

Adult-onset physician-diagnosed

A priori high risk occupations or a report of exposure before onset of asthma

18.2%

31

14,151

976 (ever asthma)

13,445

270 (asthma, current job)

France

A. Ever asthma attack or dyspnea with wheezing;

B. Adult-onset during or after current job

I. Self-reported exposure to gases, dusts and fumes

II. Job-exposure matrix (excluding jobs with imprecise estimates, n = 10,560)

A., I. 9% A., II 1%*

B., I. 14%

B., II. 7%

Mean 7.8%

32,

33

5,022

185

US

Physician-diagnosed, ever

I. Occupations a priori classified at-risk

II. Industries a priori classified at-risk

I. 26.0%

II. 36.5%

Mean 31.3%

34

1,482

77

U.S.

Physician diagnosed, adult-onset

I. Self-reported exposure, vapors, gas, dust or fume

II. Job-exposure matrix

III. Both I and II

I. 17%

II. 5%

III. 14%

Mean 12%

35

I.16,646

1,471

II. 11,337

641

U.S. (three states)

U.S. (two states)

Both use self-reported, health professional- diagnosed adult-onset asthma

Told by a health care provider that asthma was work-related

I.6.0% II.8.1%

Mean 7.0%

36

1,922

227

Brazil

Bronchial hyperresponsiveness and adult-onset asthma symptoms

Self-reported exposure, vapors, gas, fumes or humidity

22.9%

37

13,826

523

South Africa

Physician diagnosed asthma, ever

Ever regularly exposed to smoke, dust, fumes or strong smells or worked underground in a mine

13.6%

  1. *The PAR% for ever asthma was reported for the entire group and is included here as a conservative value. †PAR% derived from published data