Interpretation of epidemiologic field studies and calculated risk estimates

Conference · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Am. J. Epidemiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6608975

Stehr-Green, P A

Methods of assessing potential public health impacts at toxic waste sites include direct epidemiologic studies of affected communities and risk assessment modelling techniques. Problems inherent in the evaluation of such sites are the difficulties in measuring exposure, the incomplete understanding of low dose effects, the low frequency of disease incidence, the long latency period, the nonspecificity of clinical findings, and the probable multifactorial nature of diseases of interest. A multi-phase, sequential investigative strategy has been used to study health effects in communities near toxic waste sites. This approach enables optimal utilization of manpower, laboratory, and financial resources to detect significant public health problems by selecting only the situations at which exposures are most significant for further study. When the toxicants of interest are not persistent and measurable or data on human health effects are very limited or nonexistent, mathematical risk assessment methods must be used to estimate risks to potentially exposed human populations. Both of these approaches were used in the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-dioxin (TCDD, or dioxin) contaminations in Missouri. The combined use of both approaches may provide more complete information, thus improving the ability to offer appropriate preventive public health interventions.

• Research Organization: CDC, Atlanta, GA
• OSTI ID: 6608975
• Report Number(s): CONF-860694-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Am. J. Epidemiol.; (United States) Journal Volume: 124:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
CHEMICAL WASTES
DIOXIN
DISEASE INCIDENCE
EPIDEMIOLOGY
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
INJURIES
MAMMALS
MAN
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POPULATIONS
PRIMATES
RISK ASSESSMENT
VERTEBRATES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES