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Scleroderma and solvent exposure among women
David H Garabrant1, James V Lacey, Timothy J Laing
1Department of Environmental and Industrial Health, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
American Journal of Epidemiology
|March 13, 2003
Summary
Exposure to paint thinners and removers is linked to scleroderma risk in women. While overall solvent use duration correlated with risk, specific solvent exposure duration did not show a clear association.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Rheumatology
- Occupational Medicine
Background:
- Scleroderma, an autoimmune disease, has potential environmental triggers.
- Solvent exposure is a suspected risk factor for scleroderma development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between occupational and hobby-related solvent exposures and scleroderma risk in women.
- To examine the impact of specific solvent types and exposure duration on scleroderma development.
Main Methods:
- A population-based case-control study conducted in Michigan and Ohio.
- Involved telephone interviews with 660 scleroderma cases and 2,227 controls.
- Scleroderma diagnoses were verified through medical records review.
Main Results:
- Paint thinners and removers showed a significant association with scleroderma (OR=1.9-2.0).
- Increased duration of any solvent use correlated with higher scleroderma risk (OR=1.01/year).
- No significant associations were found for other specific solvents like trichloroethylene or petroleum distillates after multivariable adjustment.
Conclusions:
- Exposure to paint thinners and removers is associated with an increased risk of scleroderma in women.
- While overall solvent exposure duration matters, specific solvent duration did not show a clear dose-response relationship.
- Further research may be needed to clarify the role of specific solvent exposures in scleroderma etiology.