About this course

This course will focus on the main occupational respiratory diseases including mechanisms, diagnostics, emerging and established occupational and non-occupational risk factors, the evidence level for occupational exposure as related to occupational respiratory diseases, and their prevention. The course will be a mixture of lectures, group work, plenary discussions and participants presentations (own research or patient related work) provided to the course leaders before the course in order to prepare adequate feedback. 


This course has been held for many years, at intervals of two to three years. It is suitable for both first-time participants and those who have attended the course before.

It is estimated that at least 15% of the disease burden among adults for the respiratory disease in question could be avoided if occupational exposures can be eliminated, thus there is still a substantial potential for preventing these diseases. It is key, in an evidence-based way, to further improve the working environment by minimizing or removing exposure to the occupational exposures in question (mainly airborne exposures such as chemicals, allergens, biological and non-organic dust, gases and fumes). The course relates primarily to airborne exposures.

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Course objectives

The objective of the course is to provide the participants with the newest knowledges related to occupational respiratory disease, including mechanisms, diagnostics, emerging and well known occupational exposure, evidence level and prevention, and to provide inspiration to the participants to actively participate in development of the clinical field and the research field within occupational respiratory diseases.

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Main topics

The main occupational diseases covered will be allergic and non-allergic asthma and rhinitis, COPD, interstitial lung disease, and lung cancer. For each disease, the course will cover mechanisms, diagnostics, emerging and well-known occupational and non-occupational risk factors, the evidence level for occupational exposure related to each disease, and prevention of occupational respiratory diseases.

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Subject background

The respiratory diseases covered in this course are either highly prevalent, such as asthma, rhinitis, and COPD, or often severe and associated with a poor prognosis, such as interstitial lung disease, COPD, and lung cancer. Patients are regularly referred to hospitals or university clinics for diagnosis, assessment of occupational exposure, evaluation of the aetiology, and consideration of preventive measures for both the patient and the workplace.

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Target group

• Researchers, PhD students, Specialists, Practitioners

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General course fee and cancellation information

The courses and workshops vary in price. The course fee is invoiced after the registration deadline.

Travel arrangements

Please refrain from booking any travel tickets until we have confirmed the course. The confirmation, which will be sent at the latest after the registration deadline, will include detailed information on the payment of the course fee , as well as information on practical arrangements.

Please note that you are not insured by NIVA.

Cancellation policy

Cancellations received by 1 March 2027: Full refund.
Cancellations received on or after 2 March 2027: No refund.

The total price of the course will be invoiced after the registration deadline.

The price is subject to minor changes.

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Contact person

Course leader

Vivi Schlünssen, Professor, Department of Public Health, Aarhus university, Aarhus, Denmark
email: vs@ph.au.dk

In practical matters, please contact:

Nathalie Räihä, Project Manager, NIVA
mobile: +358 40 125 8748
email: nathalie.raiha@niva.org

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