Methodological considerations relevant to epidemiology studies of silica and lung cancer.
Source
Appl Occup Environ Hyg 1995 Dec; 10(12):1049-1055
Abstract
Methodological factors affecting the interpretation of epidemiological studies examining the relationship between occupational exposure to silica (14808607) and lung cancer were reviewed. Data from three studies of Vermont granite workers, South African gold miners, and California diatomaceous earth mining and processing workers were used to illustrate methodological shortcomings in the quality of exposure assessment, control of confounders such as other workplace exposures and cigarette smoking, and the use of pulmonary fibrosis as a precursor to lung cancer. Sources of bias in epidemiologic research, particularly in studies of occupational exposures and lung cancer, were described and discussed. The author presented several recommendations to improve the quality of epidemiologic studies examining occupational silica exposure and lung cancer risk.
Keywords
Pulmonary-system-disorders; Epidemiology; Analytical-methods; Silica-dusts; Lung-cancer; Risk-factors; Cigarette-smoking; Statistical-analysis; Mining-industry; Occupational-exposure;
Contact
Environmental Health University of Washington SC-34 Seattle, WA 98195
Document Type
Journal Article
Identifying No.
Grant-Number-R01-OH-003126
Source Name
Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
Performing Organization
University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
