Assessment of occupational exposures is a crucial factor in evaluating dose-response relationships and most studies conducted by the Branch have an extensive exposure assessment component. Major assessment efforts in cohort studies have involved exposures to pesticides, benzene, and diesel exhaust fumes, and to a broad range of exposures in a cohort study of women in Shanghai. In the case-control design, jobs have been evaluated for a wide variety of exposures, including solvents (including chlorinated hydrocarbons, aromatic, and other solvents), metals (arsenic, chromium, cadmium, lead), electromagnetic fields, polychlorinated biphenyls, dusts (wood dust and other types) , asbestos, formaldehyde, physical activity, nitrosoamines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, oil mists, gasoline and diesel exhausts, aromatic amines, and pesticides. These exposures have been evaluated in studies of cancer of the stomach, esophagus, bladder, brain, nasopharynx, lung, larynx, mouth, tongue and pharynx, and the lymphatic and hemtopoietic system, and of childhood brain cancer and possible associations with parental occupations. Methodologic studies are also conducted to improve exposure assessment techniques and to understand exposure patterns. A study has been initiated in Shanghai to evaluate assessments made from detailed occupational questionnaires with air measurements. The importance of assessing dermal exposure, in epidemiologic studies in particular, is being investigated. A computer program to assist in exposure assessment for case-control studies was developed. A report describing the exposure assessment procedures for evaluating EMF exposures in a brain cancer case-control study is underway. Reports describing the occurrences of pesticides, chlorinated and aromatic solvents, wood dust, and nitrosoamines are being prepared. Detailed questionnaires have been developed for two case-control studies: a kidney cancer study in the US and a bladder cancer study in New England. A comparison of assessments to pesticides is being compared to pesticide metabolites in the urine. Important determinants of exposure to 2,4-D are being evaluated using urinary levels.
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