Résumé
Background: Solvents are used in many workplaces and are known as irritant chemicals, but few studies have examined their associations with asthma.Aim: To study the association between occupational exposure to solvents and asthma in Constances, a large French population–based cohort.Methods: Analyses included 117,626 adults (mean age: 48 years, range: 18-69 years, 47% men) who completed standardized questionnaires on respiratory clinical features and lifetime occupational exposures to 5 solvents (gasoline, trichloroethylene, white spirit, formaldehyde, cellulosic thinner), paints and inks. Asthma symptom score was defined as the sum of 5 asthma-like symptoms in the past 12 months. Current asthma was defined by report of respiratory symptoms, asthma medication or asthma attacks in the past 12 months. Associations were evaluated by gender using negative binomial and logistic regressions adjusted for age, smoking habits and body mass index.Results: Exposure to at least one solvent (19% exposed) was associated with asthma symptom score in both women (mean score ratio [MSR], 95%-CI: 1.36, 1.31-1.42) and men (MSR: 1.34, 1.29-1.39). Exposure to each specific solvent was significantly associated with the asthma symptom score (MSR varied from 1.21 to 1.78 in women and 1.34 to 1.58 in men). Associations were stronger in women than in men (p interaction<0.05) for paints, trichloroethylene and white spirit. Similarly, exposure to each solvent was significantly associated with current asthma (odds ratios varied from 1.18 to 1.57 in women and 1.12 to 1.34 in men).Conclusions: In this large French cohort, self-reported occupational exposure to solvents was associated to higher risk of asthma.