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Developing estimates of frequency and intensity of exposure to three types of metalworking fluids in a population‐based case–control study of bladder cancer
Author(s) -
Friesen Melissa C.,
Park DongUk,
Colt Joanne S.,
Baris Dalsu,
Schwenn Molly,
Karagas Margaret R.,
Armenti Karla R.,
Johnson Alison,
Silverman Debra T.,
Stewart Patricia A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.22328
Subject(s) - medicine , intensity (physics) , population , bladder cancer , statistics , occupational exposure , toxicology , surgery , environmental health , cancer , mathematics , physics , quantum mechanics , biology
Background A systematic, transparent, and data‐driven approach was developed to estimate frequency and intensity of exposure to straight, soluble, and synthetic/semi‐synthetic metalworking fluids (MWFs) within a case–control study of bladder cancer in New England. Methods We assessed frequency using individual‐level information from job‐specific questionnaires wherever possible, then derived and applied job group‐level patterns to likely exposed jobs with less information. Intensity estimates were calculated using a statistical model developed from measurements and determinants extracted from the published literature. Results For jobs with probabilities of exposure ≥0.5, median frequencies were 8–10 hr/week, depending on MWF type. Median intensities for these jobs were 2.5, 2.1, and 1.0 mg/m 3 for soluble, straight, and synthetic/semi‐synthetic MWFs, respectively. Conclusions Compared to case‐by‐case assessment, these data‐driven decision rules are transparent and reproducible and may result in less biased estimates. These rules can also aid future exposure assessments of MWFs in population‐based studies. Am. J. Ind. Med. 57:915–927, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.