TY - JOUR
T1 - Quantification of historical exposures in occupational cohort studies
AU - Stewart, Patricia Ann
AU - Lees, Peter S.J.
AU - Francis, Marcie
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 1996/12
Y1 - 1996/12
N2 - Relatively few investigators have estimated quantitative exposure levels in epidemiologic studies, and, for those that have, few have discussed the strengths and weaknesses of their estimation method with respect to other methods. This paper reviews the steps for developing quantitative exposure estimates that have been used in published studies. First, the qualitative considerations to be evaluated in the selection of the agent to be estimated tie, the disease mechanism, the effects of exposure mixtures and interactions, the physical state of the agent, and the routes of exposures) are discussed. Considerations for developing exposure groups are then presented, including work history and exposure information characteristics, the homogeneity of exposures within exposure groups, the exposure estimation method, and the disease risk analyses to be performed. The various exposure estimation approaches are reviewed for their strengths and weaknesses, including the calculation of the mean exposures from existing exposure measurements, statistical models, measurement data from surrogate exposures, and professional judgment. Recommendations for future studies are provided.
AB - Relatively few investigators have estimated quantitative exposure levels in epidemiologic studies, and, for those that have, few have discussed the strengths and weaknesses of their estimation method with respect to other methods. This paper reviews the steps for developing quantitative exposure estimates that have been used in published studies. First, the qualitative considerations to be evaluated in the selection of the agent to be estimated tie, the disease mechanism, the effects of exposure mixtures and interactions, the physical state of the agent, and the routes of exposures) are discussed. Considerations for developing exposure groups are then presented, including work history and exposure information characteristics, the homogeneity of exposures within exposure groups, the exposure estimation method, and the disease risk analyses to be performed. The various exposure estimation approaches are reviewed for their strengths and weaknesses, including the calculation of the mean exposures from existing exposure measurements, statistical models, measurement data from surrogate exposures, and professional judgment. Recommendations for future studies are provided.
KW - Cohort studies
KW - Epidemiologic studies
KW - Exposure assessment
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U2 - 10.5271/sjweh.161
DO - 10.5271/sjweh.161
M3 - Review article
C2 - 9000307
AN - SCOPUS:0030474372
VL - 22
SP - 405
EP - 414
JO - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health
JF - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health
SN - 0355-3140
IS - 6
ER -