Military Inhalational Exposures Outside the Theater of Conflict and Chronic Respiratory Symptoms

Are inhalational exposures (eg, vapor, gas, dust, fumes) during nonwartime routine military activities associated with chronic respiratory symptoms?In this cross-sectional study of 1712 US veterans, inhalational exposures from heavy equipment and aircraft maintenance were common and significantly associated with respiratory symptoms, particularly dyspnea and wheeze.These findings suggest an increased risk of chronic lung disease from specific frequent inhalational exposures during military service, highlighting an opportunity to mitigate risk.

Corresponding Author: Reza Hosseini, MD, MPH (reza.hosseini@yale.edu), Yale Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program, 367 Cedar St, ESHA 2nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06510.

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