Three basic principles for improving epidemiology: an industry view

Article Abstract:

The occupational health epidemiologist is expected to be able to make such contributions to a study that will: (1) help in risk assessment, and the establishment of exposure standards; (2) identify the most important occupational disorders; (3) assist in the design of the priority order of preventive strategies; and (4) measure effectiveness of preventive programs. The following three principles, added to the proposed Good Epidemiology Practices, will help to improve the quality of occupational epidemiologic studies: (1) outcome foreknowledge should be disclosed and discussed, since familiarity with these issues should help determine the appropriate population for the study, and other aspects of the study design; (2) data should be understood from the clinical, occupational and industrial standpoints, and there should be familiarity with those elements, including predictors and confounders, that may influence the data development; and (3) detailed occupational, environmental, or personal exposure assessments should be described and documented as part of each study. This type of epidemiologic study requires the participation of multidisciplinary teams, which may include, in addition to the occupational epidemiologist, physicians, industrial hygienists, toxicologists, and other specialists whose participation and expert contributions provide the interpretative and analytical skills in those areas outside the expert scope of the principal. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Standards, Occupational health and safety, Occupational safety and health, Quality management

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Absence of adverse mortality effects in workers exposed to methylene chloride: an update

Article Abstract:

Methylene chloride is a solvent used in the manufacture of photographic film; it is the solvent of choice because of its nonflammability and low toxicity. The causes of death were studied in a group of 1,013 workers who were exposed to methylene chloride at an Eastman Kodak plant at some time between 1964 and 1970; all subjects had worked in this unit for at least one year during their careers. Death certificates for this group were tracked through 1988, and showed that compared to the general population and other employees, there was no significant increase in specific diseases such as lung, liver, pancreatic and genitourinary cancer, and ischemic heart disease. The present study reports on a four-year follow-up (from 1985 to 1988) of this group of workers; the results confirmed those of the earlier study which followed them through 1984. The ratios of actual to expected deaths were low. For example, between 1985 and 1988, four of the group died of respiratory cancer, compared with a prediction of seven deaths. Total cancer deaths numbered 14, although 20 to 22 were predicted. No significant trend was detected based on career methylene chloride exposure. The duration of the study was long enough to detect cases that became symptomatic following a period of dormancy or latency. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Patient outcomes, Mortality, Occupational diseases, Methylene chloride, Industrial toxicology

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Mortality, cancer incidence, and sickness-absence in photographic processors: an epidemiologic study

Article Abstract:

An epidemiological study was made of photofinishing processors in nine Eastman Kodak Color Print and Processing laboratories. The results of the study suggest that processors working within the current United States standards of exposure levels do not experience health related problems that are significant in the areas of incidence of cancer, illnesses, absenteeism and mortality rates.

Photographic equipment and supplies, Offices & clinics of medical doctors, Case studies, Investigations, Photographic industry, Cancer, Eastman Kodak Co.

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