Workplace Hazard? Common Dusts Found To Increase Arthritis Risk

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation and damage in the joints, as well as other organs in the body. It is characterized by symptoms such as joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, and can lead to loss of function and mobility.

While it’s known that cigarette smoking increases the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, it isn’t known what impact breathing in workplace dusts and fumes might have. Nearly three-quarters of those with rheumatoid arthritis testing positive and negative for ACPA had been exposed to at least one workplace dust or fume compared with around two-thirds of people in the comparison group.

The risk increased in tandem with the number of agents and duration of exposure, with the strongest associations seen for exposures lasting around 8–15 years. Men tended to have been exposed to more agents, and for longer, than women. And given that there are often several workplace agents in the air at any one time, it is difficult to pinpoint which ones might be the potential triggers.

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