The danger of workplace dust — and it's not what you might think

The risk of chronic kidney disease is increased by occupational exposure to dust and particles, research suggests.

In fact, a study conducted by the University of Gothenburg — which has followed Swedish construction workers since the 1970s — found that the risk was 15% higher among those who were exposed.

Chronic kidney disease is the most common form of kidney disease and involves a slow and progressive deterioration of the kidneys’ ability to cleanse the body. Harmful substances and fluids that would otherwise have been excreted through urine are instead retained.

Research in recent years has found that outdoor air pollution particles from sources such as industry, vehicle exhaust and heating may increase the risk of chronic kidney disease. The current study shows that this is also likely to be the case for occupational exposure to particles in the construction industry.

“We see a clear link between having worked in construction environments with high dust levels and the risk of developing chronic kidney disease before the age of 65. But further studies are required to show whether there is a causal link and to identify the biological mechanisms,” said Karl Kilbo Edlund, first author of the study.

How was the study conducted?

Published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the study is based on data from more than 280,000 construction workers who participated in health surveys between 1971 and 1993.

The results reveal that construction workers exposed to dust and particles were about 15% more likely to be diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and receive medical treatment to replace lost kidney function. However, the increased risk did not persist beyond retirement age.

“Chronic kidney disease is a serious disease that has a major impact on an individual’s quality of life, increasing the risk of secondary diseases and leading to high healthcare costs. Primary prevention is therefore of great importance,” said Leo Stockfelt, Associate Professor of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.

What next?

Improvements in workplace emissions and the use of personal protective equipment have reduced the occupational exposure of construction workers to particulate matter over the period studied, from the 1970s to the 1990s. This is believed to have contributed to a reduction in kidney disease, but according to the researchers, more needs to be done to improve the occupational environment within the construction industry.

The next step for the research team will be to study the link between dust and particle exposure and kidney disease in further groups, to see if the results can be confirmed and to better identify the mechanisms.

Image credit: iStock.com/skynesher. Stock image used is for illustrative purposes only.