【Abstract】Objective To investigate the contribution of occupational exposure to dusts / gases / fumes to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease( COPD) and respiratory symptoms in China. Methods Based on the crosssectional survey of COPD which was conducted in urban and rural areas of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong,Liaoning, Tianjin, Chongqing and Shanxi for residents aged 40 years or older, the association between the occupational exposure to dusts/ gases/ fumes and COPD and respiratory symptoms was analyzed. The recruited populations were interviewed with questionnaire and were tested with spirometry. The post-bronchodilators FEV1 /FVC lt; 70% was used as diagnostic criteria of COPD. Having any cough, sputum, wheezing and dyspnea was defined as having respiratory symptoms. Results The prevalence of occupational exposure to dusts/ gases /fumes was 20. 5% . As shown by multiple-variables Logistic regression analyses, occupational exposure to dusts / fumes /gases [ OR = 1. 20 ( 1. 04, 1. 39) ] and dusts of grain [ 1. 48 ( 1. 18, 1. 86) ] were associated with COPD;occupational exposure to dusts / fumes / gases [ OR = 1. 37( 1. 25, 1. 49) ] , hard-rock mining [ OR = 2. 31( 1. 67,3. 20) ] , coal mining [ OR = 1. 71( 1. 09, 2. 70) ] , dusts of cement [ OR = 1. 92( 1. 47, 2. 52) ] , chemical or plastics manufacturing [ OR =1. 58( 1. 37, 1. 83) ] , spray painting [ OR= 1. 46( 1. 16, 1. 84) ] , and other dusts or fumes [ OR = 1. 46 ( 1. 29, 1. 64 ) ] were associated with the respiratory symptoms. Smoking and occupational exposure to dusts / gases / fumes had synergic effects on the increasing risk of respiratory symptoms. The populationattributable risk ( PAR) of exposure to dusts / gases / fumes was 3. 94% and 7. 05% for COPD and respiratory symptoms respectively. Conclusions Occupational exposure to dusts /gases /fumes is associated with COPD and respiratory symptoms. Smoking and occupational exposure to dusts/ gases /fumes may have synergic effects on respiratory symptoms.