Job exposure matrices for occupational respiratory disease: a narrative review.

BACKGROUND: Job exposure matrices (JEMs) are epidemiological tools used to provide estimations of occupational exposures when it is not feasible to complete detailed individual occupational histories. AIMS: To identify and summarize the characteristics of published general population JEMs (GPJEM) of inhalable occupational exposures applied in studies of respiratory disease. METHODS: MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched using pre-defined search terms, with screening performed by two independent reviewers to identify studies reporting the use of a GPJEM. JEM creation papers were subsequently identified and reviewed for each individual GPJEM, noting its characteristics in terms of occupational classification system and exposure estimates. RESULTS: From 728 studies identified in initial searches, 33 GPJEMs of inhalable occupational exposures were identified. Versions of the International Standards Classification of Occupations were the most used occupational classification system. Binary, probability and intensity-based exposure estimates were most frequently reported in GPJEMs. CONCLUSIONS: Selection of a GPJEM to apply in epidemiological research should be based on the exposure(s) of interest, time period of occupations under review, geographical region for intended use, occupation classification system used and the exposure estimate outcome.