Occupational Cancer Epidemiology

The identification of occupational cancer risk factors and of carcinogens in the workplace is assuming increasing import ance in cancer epidemiology. This book, which contains the proceedings of a symposium held in Vancouver in June 1988, combines overviews by experts on substantive topics and methodologic issues of broad interest in occupational cancer epidemiology. Among the former are state of the art reviews emphasizing recent data and new and innovative analytic approaches. The substantive topics include discussion of cancer risks from exposure to complex organic mixtures, asbestos and man-made fibers, herbicides, radon, and electromagnetic fields. Risk assessment, exposure assessment, and analysis of occupa tional cohort studies are examples of the methodologic issues addressed. This book provides basic information and opens perspectives on new areas of research. In organizing our symposium we were greatly assisted by Betty Fata and Kim Rust of Venue West Conference Ltd. We appreciate the financial support received from the following: Cancer Control Agency of British Columbia Alcan Aluminium Ltd. National Health Research & Development Program Workers' Compensation Board of British Columbia Purdue Frederick Inc. Rhone-Poulenc Pharma Inc. London Drugs Ltd. Ciba-Geigy Canada Ltd. Bristol-Myers Pharmaceutical Group Schering Canada Inc. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. Sterling Drug Ltd. Parke-Davis Canada Inc. Beecham Laboratories Pfizer Canada Inc. Roussel Canada Inc.

This revised and updated new edition of a successful book is a multidisciplinary, comprehensive guide to occupational factors of malignant diseases. Building on the first edition, new research discoveries and their consequences in our understanding on carcinogenic mechanisms, diagnosis and attribution of occupational cancers are discussed. Examples of such discoveries are germline and acquired mutations of BAP1 in malignant mesothelioma, which have led to changes in diagnostic criteria, and carcinogen-specific genetic and epigenetic alterations in lung cancer. There are several new chapters, including gastrointestinal cancers, epidemiology of lung cancer, cancer of thyroid, and the role of primary health care in occupational cancer control. Occupational Cancers is aimed at experienced and trainee oncologists, pathologists, clinicians in occupational health, and pulmonologists, as well as epidemiologists, clinical researchers, lawyers and public health officials.

The objective of this second edition of Occupational Epidemiology is to update and extend the first edition. It includes a basic introduction to epidemiology in the occupational context and introduces new analytic methods. This volume-packed with mostly new material-empasizes the relation between occupation and a variety of illnesses. These chapters extensively cover the current epidemiologic literature on occupation and provide a valuable basic reference. This interesting work also includes case studies in occupational epidemiology. It discusses the evaluation of individual studies and the integration of information from several studies. Students as well as professionals who wish to integrate an understanding of epidemiology into their professional practice will find this book to be an indispensable resource tool.

Occupational epidemiology has emerged as a distinct subdiscipline of epidemiology and occupational medicine, addressing fundamental public health and scientific questions relating to the specification of exposure-response relationships, assessment of the adequacy of occupational exposure guidelines, and extrapolation of hazardous effects to other settings. This book reviews the wide range of principles and methods used in epidemiologic studies of working populations. It describes the historical development of occupational epidemiology, the approaches to characterizing workplace exposures, and the methods for designing and implementing epidemiologic studies. The relative strengths and limitations of different study designs are emphasized. Also included are more advanced discussions of statistical analysis, the estimation of doses to biological targets, and applications of the data derived from occupational epidemiology studies to disease modeling and risk assessment. The volume will serve both as a textbook in epidemiology and occupational medicine courses and as a practical handbook for the design, implementation, and interpretation of research in this field.

The present manual tries to respond to the specific needs of occupa- tional health epidemiology. Rather than a comprehensive review of the subject, the book presents a series of articles. The first four chap- ters deal with general principles and definitions in occupational epi demioligy and describe the work-related hazards and diseases. Chapter 5,6 and 7 deal with information collection and the use of data in the assessment of health risks and in descriptive epidemiology. General methods for epidemiological studies are discussed. The following chap ters address specific aspects such as the study of combined effects, the statistical analysis of epidemiological data, the validity as- pects of epidemiological studies, including consideration on the pro- blems of 'false positive' and 'false negative' results and the basis for causality judgment or the particular interest of experimental epi demiology in occupational health. Chapters cover two special issues of importance to workers' health, namely occupational stress and the epidemiology of accidents.