Skip to main content
NCBI home page
American Journal of Public Health logoLink to American Journal of Public Health
. 1992 Jul;82(7):944–954. doi: 10.2105/ajph.82.7.944

The potential impact of epidemiology on the prevention of occupational disease.

D H Wegman 1
PMCID: PMC1694052  PMID: 1609914

Abstract

This presentation reviews occupational epidemiology as a foundation for workplace disease prevention activities. By examining descriptive, etiologic and intervention occupational epidemiology studies, a range of opportunities are illustrated where epidemiology has played, or could play a principal role in guiding preventive efforts. Descriptive studies presented include ones based on vital records, on epidemic investigations, cross-sectional surveys, and surveillance. Etiologic studies review the largely successful development of knowledge for lung cancer and asbestos exposure for pulmonary effects of isocyanate exposures. However, attention is also directed to the need for etiologic studies of work environment risks for both cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disease. Finally importance is placed on the too infrequent epidemiologic studies of intervention. Historical examples of control of large risks from nickel cancers and silicosis are balanced with more recent examples of successes at reducing smaller risks of cardiovascular disease and oil acne. Throughout, emphasis is placed on the importance of reintegrating the academic discipline of epidemiology into the application of study findings to prevention of workplace risks.

Full text

PDF
944

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Aksoy M., Erdem S., DinCol G. Leukemia in shoe-workers exposed chronically to benzene. Blood. 1974 Dec;44(6):837–841. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BRESLOW L. Industrial aspects of bronchiogenic neoplasms. Dis Chest. 1955 Oct;28(4):421–430. doi: 10.1378/chest.28.4.421. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Banks D. E., Morring K. L., Boehlecke B. A. Silicosis in the 1980's. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 1981 Jan;42(1):77–79. doi: 10.1080/15298668191419389. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. DOLL R. Cancer of the lung and nose in nickel workers. Br J Ind Med. 1958 Oct;15(4):217–223. doi: 10.1136/oem.15.4.217. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. DOLL R. Mortality from lung cancer in asbestos workers. Br J Ind Med. 1955 Apr;12(2):81–86. doi: 10.1136/oem.12.2.81. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Dement J. M., Harris R. L., Jr, Symons M. J., Shy C. M. Exposures and mortality among chrysotile asbestos workers. Part II: mortality. Am J Ind Med. 1983;4(3):421–433. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700040304. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Diem J. E., Jones R. N., Hendrick D. J., Glindmeyer H. W., Dharmarajan V., Butcher B. T., Salvaggio J. E., Weill H. Five-year longitudinal study of workers employed in a new toluene diisocyanate manufacturing plant. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1982 Sep;126(3):420–428. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1982.126.3.420. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Doll R. Epidemiological discovery of occupational cancers. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 1984 Apr;13(2 Suppl):331–339. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Doll R., Morgan L. G., Speizer F. E. Cancers of the lung and nasal sinuses in nickel workers. Br J Cancer. 1970 Dec;24(4):623–632. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1970.76. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Dubrow R., Wegman D. H. Setting priorities for occupational cancer research and control: synthesis of the results of occupational disease surveillance studies. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1983 Dec;71(6):1123–1142. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. FUCHS S., VALADE P. Etude clinique et expérimentale sur quelques cas d'intoxication par le desmodur T (diisocyanate de toluylène 1-2-4 et 1-2-6). Arch Mal Prof. 1951;12(2):191–196. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Freymann J. G. The origins of disease orientation in American medical education. Prev Med. 1981 Nov;10(6):663–673. doi: 10.1016/0091-7435(81)90032-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Froines J. R., Baron S., Wegman D. H., O'Rourke S. Characterization of the airborne concentrations of lead in U.S. industry. Am J Ind Med. 1990;18(1):1–17. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700180102. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Froines J. R. Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by neurotoxic aminonitriles. Biochem Pharmacol. 1985 Sep 1;34(17):3185–3187. doi: 10.1016/0006-2952(85)90167-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Froines J. R., Postlethwait E. M., LaFuente E. J., Liu W. C. In vivo and in vitro release of cyanide from neurotoxic aminonitriles. J Toxicol Environ Health. 1985;16(3-4):449–460. doi: 10.1080/15287398509530754. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Froines J. R., Watson A. J. Evaluation of the inhibition of glycolytic enzymes by the neurotoxicant dimethylaminopropionitrile. J Toxicol Environ Health. 1985;16(3-4):469–479. doi: 10.1080/15287398509530756. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Froines J., Wegman D., Eisen E. Hazard surveillance in occupational disease. Am J Public Health. 1989 Dec;79 (Suppl):26–31. doi: 10.2105/ajph.79.suppl.26. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Hagberg M., Wegman D. H. Prevalence rates and odds ratios of shoulder-neck diseases in different occupational groups. Br J Ind Med. 1987 Sep;44(9):602–610. doi: 10.1136/oem.44.9.602. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Hammond E. C., Selikoff I. J., Seidman H. Asbestos exposure, cigarette smoking and death rates. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1979;330:473–490. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1979.tb18749.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Karasek R. A., Theorell T., Schwartz J. E., Schnall P. L., Pieper C. F., Michela J. L. Job characteristics in relation to the prevalence of myocardial infarction in the US Health Examination Survey (HES) and the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HANES). Am J Public Health. 1988 Aug;78(8):910–918. doi: 10.2105/ajph.78.8.910. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Knutsson A., Akerstedt T., Jonsson B. G., Orth-Gomer K. Increased risk of ischaemic heart disease in shift workers. Lancet. 1986 Jul 12;2(8498):89–92. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(86)91619-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Kreiss K., Wegman D. H., Niles C. A., Siroky M. B., Krane R. J., Feldman R. G. Neurological dysfunction of the bladder in workers exposed to dimethylaminopropionitrile. JAMA. 1980 Feb 22;243(8):741–745. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Kristensen T. S. Cardiovascular diseases and the work environment. A critical review of the epidemiologic literature on nonchemical factors. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1989 Jun;15(3):165–179. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.1864. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Kristensen T. S. Cardiovascular diseases and the work environment. A critical review of the epidemiologic literature on nonchemical factors. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1989 Jun;15(3):165–179. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.1864. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Liang Y. X., Qu D. Z. Cost-benefit analysis of the recovery of carbon disulfide in the manufacturing of viscose rayon. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1985;11 (Suppl 4):60–63. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Lou J. Z., Zhou C. The prevention of silicosis and prediction of its future prevalence in China. Am J Public Health. 1989 Dec;79(12):1613–1616. doi: 10.2105/ajph.79.12.1613. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. McDonald J. C., Liddell F. D., Gibbs G. W., Eyssen G. E., McDonald A. D. Dust exposure and mortality in chrysotile mining, 1910-75. Br J Ind Med. 1980 Feb;37(1):11–24. doi: 10.1136/oem.37.1.11. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. McDonald J. C. Mineral fibres and cancer. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 1984 Apr;13(2 Suppl):345–352. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. McMichael A. J. Setting environmental exposure standards: the role of the epidemiologist. Int J Epidemiol. 1989 Mar;18(1):10–16. doi: 10.1093/ije/18.1.10. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Newhouse M. L. A study of the mortality of workers in an asbestos factory. Br J Ind Med. 1969 Oct;26(4):294–301. doi: 10.1136/oem.26.4.294. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Nurminen M., Hernberg S. Effects of intervention on the cardiovascular mortality of workers exposed to carbon disulphide: a 15 year follow up. Br J Ind Med. 1985 Jan;42(1):32–35. doi: 10.1136/oem.42.1.32. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Nygård C. H., Luopajärvi T., Ilmarinen J. Musculoskeletal capacity of middle-aged women and men in physical, mental and mixed occupations. A 3.5-year follow-up. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1988;57(2):181–188. doi: 10.1007/BF00640660. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Paffenbarger R. S., Jr, Hale W. E., Brand R. J., Hyde R. T. Work-energy level, personal characteristics, and fatal heart attack: a birth-cohort effect. Am J Epidemiol. 1977 Mar;105(3):200–213. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112376. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Partanen T., Hernberg S., Nordman C. H., Sumari P. Coronary heart disease among workers exposed to carbon disulphide. Br J Ind Med. 1970 Oct;27(4):313–325. doi: 10.1136/oem.27.4.313. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Peters J. M., Murphy R. L., Pagnotto L. D., Van Ganse W. F. Acute respiratory effects in workers exposed to low levels of toluene diisocyanate (TDI). Arch Environ Health. 1968 May;16(5):642–647. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1968.10665121. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Peters J. M., Wegman D. H. Epidemiology of toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-induced respiratory disease. Environ Health Perspect. 1975 Jun;11:97–100. doi: 10.1289/ehp.751197. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Punnett L., Fine L. J., Keyserling W. M., Herrin G. D., Chaffin D. B. Back disorders and nonneutral trunk postures of automobile assembly workers. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1991 Oct;17(5):337–346. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.1700. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Saracci R. Epidemiological strategies and environmental factors. Int J Epidemiol. 1978 Jun;7(2):101–111. doi: 10.1093/ije/7.2.101. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Siegrist J., Matschinger H., Cremer P., Seidel D. Atherogenic risk in men suffering from occupational stress. Atherosclerosis. 1988 Feb;69(2-3):211–218. doi: 10.1016/0021-9150(88)90016-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Silverstein B. A., Fine L. J., Armstrong T. J. Occupational factors and carpal tunnel syndrome. Am J Ind Med. 1987;11(3):343–358. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700110310. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Smith A. H. Epidemiologic input to environmental risk assessment. Arch Environ Health. 1988 Mar-Apr;43(2):124–129. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1988.9935838. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Theriault G. P., Peters J. M., Johnson W. M. Pulmonary function and roentgenographic changes in granite dust exposure. Arch Environ Health. 1974 Jan;28(1):23–27. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1974.10666427. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. Tolonen M., Hernberg S., Nurminen M., Tiitola K. A follow-up study of coronary heart disease in viscose rayon workers exposed to carbon disulphide. Br J Ind Med. 1975 Feb;32(1):1–10. doi: 10.1136/oem.32.1.1. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. Wegman D. H., Musk A. W., Main D. M., Pagnotto L. D. Accelerated loss of FEV- in polyurethane production workers: a four-year prospective study. Am J Ind Med. 1982;3(2):209–215. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700030212. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  45. Wegman D. H., Pagnotto L. D., Fine L. J., Peters J. M. A dose-response relationship in TDI workers. J Occup Med. 1974 Apr;16(4):258–260. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  46. Weill H., Hughes J., Waggenspack C. Influence of dose and fiber type on respiratory malignancy risk in asbestos cement manufacturing. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1979 Aug;120(2):345–354. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1979.120.2.345. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  47. Whittemore A. S. Epidemiology in risk assessment for regulatory policy. J Chronic Dis. 1986;39(12):1157–1168. doi: 10.1016/0021-9681(86)90146-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  48. el Batawi M. A., Husbumrer C. Epidemiological approach to planning and development of occupational health services at a national level. Int J Epidemiol. 1987 Jun;16(2):288–292. doi: 10.1093/ije/16.2.288. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from American Journal of Public Health are provided here courtesy of American Public Health Association

RESOURCES