Study on the association between residential exposure to N, N-dimethylformamide and hospitalization for respiratory disease

Some studies have confirmed the adverse effects of N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) on the different organs in occupational exposure workers. However, to the best of our knowledge, risk assessment in the general population has not been available. In this study, a time series analysis of the relationship between DMF exposure and respiratory hospitalization was performed in Longwan district of China in 2008. Generalized additive model (GAMs) reflected that a 101.0 μg m−3 (inter-quartile range) increase in the 1-day lag concentration of DMF resulted in a 1.17 (95% CI: 1.09–1.25) increased relative risk of hospitalization for respiratory problems. The dose–response curve representing the relationship between DMF and the logarithm of the number of hospitalization was adequately linear at 4–200 μg m−3. We proposed a risk on respiratory disease in non-occupational DMF exposure. More information is required to verify this observation and the other endpoints to general population should be investigated during long-term DMF exposure.