title: Exposure assessment for a nested case-control study of lung cancer among European asphalt workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Development of a method for retrospective assessment of exposure to bitumen fume, bitumen condensate, organic vapour, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and co-exposures to known or suspected lung carcinogens for a nested case-control study of lung cancer mortality among European asphalt workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Company questionnaires and structured questionnaires used in interviews and industry-specific job-exposure matrices (JEMs) were elaborated and applied. Three sources of information were eventually used for exposure assessment and assignment: (i) data obtained in cohort phase, (ii) data from living subjects, next-of-kin, and fellow-workers questionnaires, and (iii) JEMs for bitumen exposure by inhalation and via skin and co-exposures to known or suspected lung carcinogens within and outside cohort companies. Inhalation and dermal exposure estimates for bitumen were adjusted for time trends, time spent in a job, and other determinants of exposure (e.g. oil gravel paving). Clothing patterns, personal protective devices, and personal hygiene were taken into consideration while estimating dermal exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Occupational exposures could be assessed for 433 cases and 1253 controls for relevant time periods. Only 43% of work histories were spent inside original asphalt and construction companies. A total of 95.8% of job periods in cohort companies could be coded at a more detailed level. Imputation of work time and 'hygienic behaviour' multipliers was needed for <10% of work history years. Overall, downward trends in exposure were present and differences existed between countries and companies. As expected, correlations were strongest (r > 0.7) among bitumen-related agents, while correlations between coal tar, bitumen-related agents, and established lung carcinogens were weaker (r < 0.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A systematic and detailed approach was developed to estimate inhalation and dermal exposure for a nested case-control study among asphalt workers.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Risk Assessment Sciences, University of Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agostini
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Burstyn
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Vocht
authors.forename: Johnni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Christina Funch
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lassen
authors.forename: Christoffer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kjaerheim
authors.forename: Sverre
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Langard
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stucker
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ahrens
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Behrens
authors.forename: Marja-Liisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lindbohm
authors.forename: Pirjo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heikkilä
authors.forename: Dick
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heederik
authors.forename: Lützen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Portengen
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shaham
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boffetta
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kromhout
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D000465:Algorithms; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D060389:Construction Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000401:mortality*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry; D017592:Skin Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D002273:Carcinogens; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; C006647:asphalt