International Journal of Epidemiology, Vol 19, S11-S13, Copyright © 1990 by International Epidemiological Association
MD Lebowitz
Scientific and public perceptions concerning low-level lung cancer risks
may vary. Recently the public has been more convinced of causal links
between low-level risk agents and cancer, and more interested in prevention
of environmental exposures, especially those induced by others. Thus,
scientific strategy is partly driven by the public need to resolve issues
concerning the importance of low-level exposures and risks. Further,
investigators have been challenged intellectually to create methodologies
in order to study some of these relationships further, and scientific
curiosity has been stimulated by the difficulties of pursuing such
investigations. The importance of host characteristics, including the
genetic bases of susceptibility, has become a major theme. Likewise, host
behaviour has become a potential positive factor (e.g. diet) as well as a
negative factor in the risk model for low-level agents. This paper
discusses some of the information available on low-level agents and some of
the methodological issues involved in studying them. The importance of
measuring exposure as well as response is stressed, especially multi-
pollutant exposures and interactions with host behaviour.
ARTICLES
Environmental contaminants and low-level cancer risks: perceptions and scientific strategies
Division of Respiratory Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson 85724.
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