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Objective: This study investigated time trends in occupational exposure to various chemicals in Sweden and the distribution across demographic and labor market sectors., Methods: Exposure to six chemicals was investigated from 1980 to 2013 by application of a job exposure matrix to national population registers. Respirable crystalline silica (RCS), diesel engine exhaust, welding fumes, wood dust, chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents, and lead were selected to represent different groups of chemicals. Trends in exposure prevalence were investigated by linear regression and compared to the occupationally active population. Confidence intervals for the rate of change over time were obtained by bootstrapping., Results: The proportion of workers born outside the Nordic countries increased over time in those exposed to RCS, diesel exhaust and wood dust. There was a shift of exposed jobs to small companies (<50 employees), especially for RCS, welding fumes, wood dust, and chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents. For RCS and welding fumes, there was a marked drop in exposure levels from 1980 to 1990 but small changes thereafter. Exposure to lead diminished, both in terms of prevalence and intensity., Conclusions: Over time, several exposures tended to shift to small companies, the construction sector, and migrant workers, all factors being indicative of less well-controlled working conditions. Occupational exposure to chlorinated organic solvents and lead diminished, while exposure levels to RCS and welding fumes have changed little since 1990. In view of the serious and well-established negative health effects, increased efforts to reduce exposure to RCS and welding fumes are needed.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate mortality and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) incidence among commercial and military flying personnel in Sweden., Methods: Flying personnel, employed at the Swedish part of Scandinavian Airlines and the Swedish Armed Forces at some point between 1957-1994, were included. The cohort was followed regarding mortality and AMI incidence using national registers of hospital discharges and deaths. The observed mortality and AMI incidence was compared with the expected rate in the general Swedish population through standardized mortality ratios (SMR) and standardized incidence ratios (SIR) taking age, gender, and calendar year into account., Results: Swedish flying personnel, except male cabin crew, had a lower-than-expected all-cause mortality (SMR ranging from 0.57 among female cabin crew to 0.79 among navigators and mechanics; male cabin crew 0.89) and cardiovascular mortality (SMR from 0.31 among female cabin crew to 0.79 among navigators and mechanics). We observed an elevated mortality in aircraft accidents (SMR ranging from 23.87 among commercial pilots to 165.68 among military pilots). Male cabin attendants had a higher-than-expected mortality for alcohol-related death causes and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). AMI incidence was reduced in all groups and across the lifespan (SIR between 0.13 among female cabin crew and 0.61 among navigators and mechanics)., Conclusions: Swedish flying personnel have a low all-cause mortality. This is mostly due to a reduced cardiovascular mortality reflecting a low AMI incidence during the working life as well as after retirement.