title: Performance of different exposure assessment approaches in a study of bitumen fume exposure and lung cancer mortality.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Burstyn
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boffetta
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kauppinen
authors.forename: Pirjo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heikkilä
authors.forename: Ole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Svane
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Partanen
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stücker
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frentzel-Beyme
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ahrens
authors.forename: Hiltrud
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Merzenich
authors.forename: Dick
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heederik
authors.forename: Mariette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hooiveld
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brunekreef
authors.forename: Sverre
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Langård
authors.forename: Britt G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Randem
authors.forename: Bengt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Järvholm
authors.forename: Ingvar A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Bergdahl
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shaham
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kromhout
mesh_terms: 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