The Annals of occupational hygiene
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Multicenter Study
Occupational and environmental factors and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Japan.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease of unknown etiology. Environmental factors, especially occupational agents, may be of great importance in the manifestation of IPF. We examined the relationship between occupational and environmental factors and IPF in Japan. ⋯ From 20.0 to 39.9 pack-years of smoking was significantly associated with an increased risk of IPF (OR = 3.23; 95% CI = 1.01-10.84). Our results appear to confirm data from previous epidemiologic studies. Metal dust exposure may be a particularly important risk factor for IPF.