title: A comparison between self-reported and GIS-based proxies of residential exposure to environmental pollution in a case-control study on lung cancer.
abstract: In epidemiological studies both questionnaire results and GIS modeling have been used to assess exposure to environmental risk factors. Nevertheless, few studies have used both these techniques to evaluate the degree of agreement between different exposure assessment methodologies. As part of a case-control study on lung cancer, we present a comparison between self-reported and GIS-derived proxies of residential exposure to environmental pollution. 649 subjects were asked to fill out a questionnaire and give information about residential history and perceived exposure. Using GIS, for each residence we evaluated land use patterns, proximity to major roads and exposure to industrial pollution. We then compared the GIS exposure-index values among groups created on the basis of questionnaire responses. Our results showed a relatively high agreement between the two methods. Although none of these methods is the "exposure gold standard", understanding similarities, weaknesses and strengths of each method is essential to strengthen epidemiological evidence.
authors.affiliation: University of Parma, Department of Bio-Sciences, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124 Parma, Italy; Environmental Health Reference Centre, Regional Agency for Environmental Prevention of Emilia-Romagna, Via Begarelli 13, 41121 Modena, Italy. Electronic address: mik.cordioli@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cordioli
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Reference Centre, Regional Agency for Environmental Prevention of Emilia-Romagna, Via Begarelli 13, 41121 Modena, Italy. Electronic address: aranzi@arpa.emr.it.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ranzi
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Reference Centre, Regional Agency for Environmental Prevention of Emilia-Romagna, Via Begarelli 13, 41121 Modena, Italy; University of Bologna, Department of Statistical Sciences, Via Belle Arti 41, Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: anna.freni@unibo.it.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Freni Sterrantino
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Reference Centre, Regional Agency for Environmental Prevention of Emilia-Romagna, Via Begarelli 13, 41121 Modena, Italy. Electronic address: lerspamer@arpa.emr.it.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Erspamer
authors.affiliation: Clinical Trials Office, Cancer Unit of the Carpi General Hospital, Via Guido Molinari 2, Carpi, Modena, Italy. Electronic address: g.razzini@ausl.mo.it.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Razzini
authors.affiliation: Clinical Trials Office, Cancer Unit of the Carpi General Hospital, Via Guido Molinari 2, Carpi, Modena, Italy. Electronic address: u.ferrari@ausl.mo.it.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Unit of Epidemiology, Local Health Unit of Modena, Strada Martiniana 21, Baggiovara, 41126 Modena, Italy. Electronic address: gi.gatti@ausl.mo.it.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Unit of Epidemiology, Local Health Unit of Modena, Strada Martiniana 21, Baggiovara, 41126 Modena, Italy. Electronic address: k.bonora@ausl.mo.it.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bonora
authors.affiliation: Clinical Trials Office, Cancer Unit of the Carpi General Hospital, Via Guido Molinari 2, Carpi, Modena, Italy. Electronic address: f.artioli@ausl.mo.it.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Artioli
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Unit of Epidemiology, Local Health Unit of Modena, Strada Martiniana 21, Baggiovara, 41126 Modena, Italy. Electronic address: c.goldoni@ausl.mo.it.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Goldoni
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Reference Centre, Regional Agency for Environmental Prevention of Emilia-Romagna, Via Begarelli 13, 41121 Modena, Italy. Electronic address: plauriola@arpa.emr.it.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lauriola
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Environmental epidemiology; Exposure assessment; GIS; Lung cancer; Questionnaire; Self-reported exposure