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Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Generation of a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Model in Mice by Repeated Ozone Exposure
Published on: August 25, 2017
Further exploration of the links between occupational exposure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Paul D Blanc1, Mark D Eisner, Gillian Earnest
1Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-0924, USA. Paul.Blanc@ucsf.edu
Objective:
To examine occupational risk for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Methods:
We randomly recruited 233 subjects aged 55 to 75 reporting a physician's diagnosis of COPD, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis. Interviews assessed cigarette smoking and longest held job, identifying exposure to vapors, gas, dust, or fumes (VGDF). Lung function was assessed in n = 138. Comparison data were derived from a sample of referents without COPD.
Results:
VGDF was reported in 123 (53%) of 233 cases versus 577 (34%) of 1709 referents. VGDF was associated with COPD (Odds Ratio [OR] 2.5; 95% CI = 1.9 to 3.4); the population attributable fraction was 32%. In the lung function subset, the FEV1/FVC was <70% in 79 (57%); 35 (44%) reported VGDF associated with an OR = 1.6 (95% CI = 0.99 to 2.6) and population attributable fraction 17%.
Conclusions:
These data support an important role for occupational exposures in COPD.
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