Table 2

Incidence rate ratios with 95% CI for systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, small vessel vasculitis and Sjögren’s syndrome by cumulated styrene exposure in 59 997 male and 12 215 female workers in the Danish reinforced plastics industry, 1979 to 2012

Styrene exposure levelnRate rationRate ratio
MenWomen
CrudeAdjusted*CrudeAdjusted*
Systemic sclerosis229
 ≤17 mg/m3-years1111
 18–67 mg/m3-years2.52 (0.68 to 9.30)1.90 (0.51 to 7.11)1.02 (0.19 to 5.58)1.15 (0.20 to 6.52)
 ≥68 mg/m3-years2.68 (0.74 to 9.75)1.86 (0.50 to 7.00)2.13 (0.48 to 9.53)2.50 (0.50 to 12.50)
Per 100 mg/m3-years 1.05 (0.97 to 1.14) 1.03 (0.94 to 1.13) 1.18 (1.01 to 1.38) 1.19 (1.01 to 1.39)
Reumatoid arthritis359168
 ≤17 mg/m3-years1111
 18–67 mg/m3-years1.32 (0.99 to 1.76)1.12 (0.83 to 1.49)0.93 (0.64 to 1.35)0.83 (0.57 to 1.20)
 ≥68 mg/m3-years1.68 (1.28 to 2.21)1.28 (0.96 to 1.70)1.17 (0.80 to 1.71)0.95 (0.63 to 1.41)
Per 100 mg/m3-years 1.04 (1.02 to 1.07) 1.02 (1.00 to 1.05) 1.05 (0.97 to 1.13) 1.01 (0.93 to 1.10)
Systemic lupus erythematosus2315
 ≤17 mg/m3-years1111
 18–67 mg/m3-years0.94 (0.36 to 2.45)0.84 (0.32 to 2.24)1.28 (0.42 to 3.90)1.50 (0.47 to 4.73)
 ≥68 mg/m3-years0.60 (0.21 to 1.74)0.55 (0.18 to 1.66)0.71 (0.15 to 3.35)0.88 (0.18 to 4.35)
Per 100 mg/m3-years 0.70 (0.42 to 1.15) 0.68 (0.40 to 1.14) 0.65 (0.24 to 1.77) 0.71 (0.27 to 1.84)
Small vessel vasculitis6119
 ≤17 mg/m3-years1111
 18–67 mg/m3-years1.01 (0.51 to 2.00)0.82 (0.41 to 1.64)0.79 (0.28 to 2.20)0.71 (0.25 to 2.01)
 ≥68 mg/m3-years1.50 (0.80 to 2.81)1.06 (0.55 to 2.04)0.22 (0.03 to 1.67)0.18 (0.02 to 1.38)
Per 100 mg/m3-years 1.06 (1.01 to 1.11) 1.03 (0.99 to 1.09) 0.39 (0.10 to 1.60) 0.32 (0.07 to 1.47)
Sjögren’s syndrome1824
 ≤17 mg/m3-years1111
 18–67 mg/m3-years0.42 (0.13 to 1.39)0.40 (0.12 to 1.35)1.10 (0.44 to 2.76)1.01 (0.40 to 2.55)
 ≥68 mg/m3-years0.60 (0.21 to 1.74)0.57 (0.19 to 1.70)0.88 (0.29 to 2.68)0.79 (0.25 to 2.52)
Per 100 mg/m3-years 0.75 (0.46 to 1.23) 0.74 (0.45 to 1.22) 0.77 (0.42 to 1.42) 0.73 (0.38 to 1.41)
  • *Adjusted for age, calendar year of follow-up and educational level.