Performance of different exposure assessment approaches in a study of bitumen fume exposure and lung cancer mortality.
BACKGROUND
We compared performance of different exposure assessment approaches in a cohort study of cancer risk among European asphalt workers.


METHODS
Three bitumen fume exposure indices (duration of exposure (years), average exposure (mg/m3) and cumulative exposure (mg/m3*years)) and two latency models (with and without a 15 year lag) were considered for an association between lung cancer mortality and bitumen fume.


RESULTS
There was no association between lung cancer risk and either duration or cumulative exposure. However, there was the suggestion of an increase in lung cancer risk accompanying rise in average exposure. Only models with average bitumen fume exposure (with or without lag) improved model fit, albeit to the same extent.


CONCLUSIONS
Constructing quantitative indices of exposure intensity was justified because they produced the greatest improvement in fit of models that explored possible relationship between bitumen fume exposure and lung cancer risk. The identified associations require further investigation.
Burstyn
Igor
I
Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Boffetta
Paolo
P
Kauppinen
Timo
T
Heikkilä
Pirjo
P
Svane
Ole
O
Partanen
Timo
T
Stücker
Isabelle
I
Frentzel-Beyme
Rainer
R
Ahrens
Wolfgang
W
Merzenich
Hiltrud
H
Heederik
Dick
D
Hooiveld
Mariette
M
Brunekreef
Bert
B
Langård
Sverre
S
Randem
Britt G
BG
Järvholm
Bengt
B
Bergdahl
Ingvar A
IA
Shaham
Judith
J
Ferro
Gilles
G
Kromhout
Hans
H
D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors