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Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Automated Measurement of Pulmonary Emphysema and Small Airway Remodeling in Cigarette Smoke-exposed Mice
Published on: January 16, 2015
Occupational exposures to inorganic dust are associated with emphysema: the SCAPIS cohort
Mathias Holm1, Linus Schioler2, Anna Dahlman-Hoglund2
1Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden mathias.holm@amm.gu.se.
Objectives:
There is a lack of knowledge about whether occupational exposures increase the risk of emphysema, especially in never-smokers. Our objective was to determine if occupational exposures are associated with emphysema and impaired diffusing capacity.
Methods:
In the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS), persons from the general population aged 50-64 answered a questionnaire and underwent CT of the lung as well as assessment of the diffusing capacity of their lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO), presented as DLCO
Results:
In this cross-sectional study (27 370 persons including 13 981 never-smokers), occupational exposure to inorganic dust was associated with emphysema (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.47), also among never-smokers, (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.11). There were associations with DLCO
Conclusions:
Occupational exposures to inorganic dust are associated with emphysema. The association is stronger in those with the combination of emphysema and impaired DLCO indicating serious exposure effects in the alveoli.
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