Table 4

Risk of job change by occupational exposure category* and gender

Exposure categoryTotal (ncases=125)
ORadj (95% CI)†
Females (n=47)
ORadj (95% CI)‡
Males (n=78)
ORadj (95% CI)‡
Regression model 1
 HMW agents2.5 (1.5 to 4.4)2.4 (1.1 to 5.2)2.7 (1.2 to 5.9)
 LMW agents1.7 (1.0 to 2.9)4.1 (1.7 to 9.9)1.3 (0.69 to 2.4)
 Irritating agents2.5 (1.6 to 3.8)2.7 (1.4 to 5.4)2.4 (1.4 to 4.2)
 Peak exposure to irritants2.3 (1.3 to 4.2)1.2 (0.15 to 9.4)2.7 (1.4 to 5.0)
 Uncertain or low exposure1.4 (0.64 to 3.0)1.6 (0.38 to 7.0)1.3 (0.51 to 3.2)
Regression model 2
 Animal-derived agents3.2 (0.88 to 12)13 (3.4 to 49)0.61 (0.063 to 6.0)
 Mixed agricultural work (not animal)5.3 (1.8 to 15)5.3 (0.68 to 41)4.8 (1.4 to 17)
 Moulds and other bio-aerosols1.6 (0.45 to 5.6)0.28 (0.026 to 2.9)3.7 (1.1 to 13)
 Latex proteins1.7 (0.46 to 6.7)2.2 (0.51 to 10)
 Pharmaceutical product agents0.83 (0.15 to 4.5)0.95 (0.15 to 5.8)
 Acrylates1.0 (0.23 to 1.8)0.78 (0.20 to 4.7)
 Epoxy chemicals0.38 (0.080 to 1.8)0.47 (0.087 to 2.6)
 Diisocyanates1.7 (0.67 to 4.5)2.6 (0.28 to 23)1.5 (0.53 to 4.3)
 Reactive agents (aldehydes, amines, etc)4.7 (2.2 to 10)8.1 (3.0 to 22)2..6 (0.73 to 8.9)
 Cleaning agents5.6 (2.4 to 13)8.8 (3.4 to 23)2.1 (0.28 to 16)
 Wood and paper dust3.7 (1.9 to 7.2)6.7 (0.70 to 64)2.8 (1.3 to 5.8)
 Inorganic dust and fumes2.1 (1.1 to 3.8)2.1 (1.1 to 3.9)
 Welding and soldering fumes and other metal dust4.0 (1.3 to 12)4.4 (1.2 to 16)
 Metalworking fluids1.7 (0.59 to 4.7)27 (3.2 to 237)1.0 (0.34 to 3.2)
 Vehicle/motor exhaust2.2 (1.2 to 4.1)3.2 (1.2 to 8.3)1.7 (0.79 to 3.6)
 Peak exposure to irritants1.6 (0.59 to 4.4)1.5 (0.16 to 14)1.4 (0.43 to 4.8)
 Uncertain or low exposure1.5 (0.71 to 3.4)2.3 (0.52 to 9.9)1.2 (0.49 to 3.1)
  • *Occupational exposure was assessed by a job-exposure matrix.

  • †Adjusted for age, gender and smoking.

  • ‡Adjusted for age and smoking.

  • –, less than two cases.

  • HMW, high-molecular-weight; LMW, low-molecular-weight.