Workers at Risk

There is mounting evidence from occupational studies of the link between environmental toxins and autoimmune disease. In 2007, scientists from the National Institutes of Health announced a new report on exposures to chemicals and death from autoimmune disease.  After studying 300,000 death certificates in 26 states over a 14-year period, researchers found that people who worked with pesticides, textiles, hand painting, solvents (such as TCE), benzene, asbestos, and other compounds were significantly more likely to die from an autoimmune disease than people who were not exposed.  Other recent studies likewise show links between working with pesticides, TCE solvents, silica, asbestos, PCBs and vinyl chloride and a greater likelihood of developing autoimmune disease.