ISSN:1044-3983    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:1044-3983    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

BackgroundGeographic information system (GIS)-based health studies require information on the physical location of data points, such as subject addresses. In a study of California women diagnosed with breast cancer between 1988 and 1997, we needed to locate the residential addresses of 4,537 women with post office boxes (POBs)MethodsWe investigated the feasibility of tracing street addresses for the POBs and examined potential selection biases and case attribute misclassifications introduced by different methods of handling POBs in GIS-based health studies.ResultsOur tracing method yielded street addresses for only 34% of POBs in our study. Examination of subjects’ case characteristics revealed that boxholders were not representative of the full population. Geocoding using a POB’s delivery-weighted five-digit zip code centroid, as a proxy for street address, resulted in case attribute misclassification for 81% of boxholders.ConclusionsDisease registries should modernize their infrastructure to complement GIS technologies. Epidemiologists should understand GIS data limitations and consider potential biases introduced by incomplete or inaccurate geocoding.

ISSN:1044-3983    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

BackgroundIt is not clear whether low environmental doses of dioxin affect the general population. We previously detected a cluster of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma around a French municipal solid waste incinerator with high dioxin emissions. To explore the environmental route suggested by these findings, we carried out a population-based case-control study in the same area.MethodsWe compared 222 incident cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed between 1980 and 1995 and controls randomly selected from the 1990 population census, using a 10-to-1 match. Dioxin ground-level concentrations were modeled with a second-generation Gaussian-type dispersion model, yielding four dioxin exposure categories. The latter were linked to individual places of residence, using Geographic Information System technology.ResultsThe risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma was 2.3 times higher (95% confidence interval = 1.4–3.8) among individuals living in the area with the highest dioxin concentration than among those living in the area with the lowest dioxin concentration. No increased risk was found for the intermediate dioxin exposure categories. Adjustment for a wide range of socioeconomic characteristics at the block group level did not alter the results.ConclusionAlthough emissions from incinerators are usually not regarded as an important source of exposure to dioxins compared with other background sources, our findings support the hypothesis that environmental dioxins increase the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma among the population living in the vicinity of a municipal solid waste incinerator.

ISSN:1044-3983    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

BackgroundGeographic information systems (GIS) and spatial statistics are useful for exploring the relation between geographic location and health. The ultimate usefulness of GIS depends on both completeness and accuracy of geocoding (the process of assigning study participants’ residences latitude/longitude coordinates that closely approximate their true locations, also known as address matching). The goal of this project was to develop an iterative geocoding process that would achieve a high match rate in a large population-based health study.MethodsData were from a study conducted in Wisconsin using mailing addresses of participants who were interviewed by telephone from 1988 to 1995. We standardized the addresses according to US Postal Service guidelines, used desktop GIS geocoding software and two versions of the Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing street maps, accessed Internet mapping engines for problematic addresses, and recontacted a small number of study participants’ households. We also tabulated the project’s cost, time commitment, software requirements, and brief notes for each step and their alternatives.ResultsOf the 14,804 participants, 97% were ultimately assigned latitude/longitude coordinates corresponding to their respective residences. The remaining 3% were geocoded to their zip code centroid.ConclusionThe multiple methods described in this work provide practical information for investigators who are considering the use of GIS in their population health research.

ISSN:1044-3983    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

BackgroundGeographic information systems (GIS) offer powerful techniques for epidemiologists. Geocoding is an important step in the use of GIS in epidemiologic research, and the validity of epidemiologic studies using this methodology depends, in part, on the positional accuracy of the geocoding process.MethodsWe conducted a study comparing the validity of positions geocoded with a commercially available program to positions determined by Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite receivers. Addresses (N = 200) were randomly selected from a recently completed case–control study in Western New York State. We geocoded addresses using ArcView 3.2 on the GDT Dynamap/2000 U.S. Street database. In addition, we measured the longitude and latitude of these addresses with a GPS receiver. The distance between the locations obtained by these two methods was calculated for all addresses.ResultsThe distance between the geocoded point and the GPS point was within 100 m for the majority of subject addresses (79%), with only a small proportion (3%) having a distance greater than 800 m. The overall median distance between GPS points and geocoded points was 38 m (90% confidence interval [CI] = 34–46). Distances were not different for cases and controls. Urban addresses (median = 32 m; CI = 28–37) were slightly more accurate than nonurban addresses (median = 52 m; CI = 44–61).Conclusions.This study indicates that the suitability of geocoding for epidemiologic research depends on the level of spatial resolution required to assess exposure. Although sources of error in positional accuracy for geocoded addresses exist, geocoding of addresses is, for the most part, very accurate.

ISSN:1044-3983    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

BackgroundSeveral studies have identified occupational exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) as a potential risk factor for neurodegenerative disease, but the evidence is contradictory and inconclusiveMethodsWe conducted a cohort study to explore these associations. We studied all economically active individuals in the Swedish 1980 census (4,812,646 subjects), and followed them for neurodegenerative disease mortality from 1981 through 1995. Information about occupation was available for 1970 and 1980. A job-exposure matrix based on magnetic field measurements was used to assess EMF exposureResultsAn increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease mortality was observed among men exposed both in 1970 and 1980 (relative risk = 2.3; 95% confidence interval = 1.6-3.3 for exposure ≥0.5 &mgr;T). The associations were most pronounced for early-onset Alzheimer’s disease mortality or with follow-up limited to 10 years after the last known occupation. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was not associated with EMF exposure, but the risk estimate with “electrical and electronics work” was 1.4 (95% confidence interval = 1.1-1.9)ConclusionsOur study gives some support to the hypothesis that EMF exposure increases the risk of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and suggests that magnetic field exposure may represent a late-acting influence in the disease process. Electric shock is an unlikely explanation for the increased risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in “electrical and electronics work” in this study.

ISSN:1044-3983    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

BackgroundPrevious work has suggested an increase in risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer’s disease among workers exposed to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF). We evaluated the relation between ELF-MF from occupational exposures and mortality from neurodegenerative diseases.MethodsThe study was based on a cohort of Swedish engineering industry workers, comprising 537,692 men and 180,529 women. The cohort was matched against the 3 most recent censuses and The Causes of Death Registry. Levels of ELF-MF exposure were obtained by linking occupation according to the censuses to a job exposure matrix. We used 4 levels of exposure and considered both the primary and contributing causes of death, 1985-96.ResultsThe risk of Alzheimer’s disease as primary or contributing cause of death increased with increasing exposure to ELF-MF among both men and women, with a relative risk (RR) of 4.0 and a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of 1.4-11.7 in the highest exposure group for both sexes combined. There was a RR of 2.2 (95% CI: 1.0-4.7) for ALS in the highest exposure group with the suggestion of an exposure-response relationship. No evidence of increased risk was seen for Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis.ConclusionsThe findings support previous observations of an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and ALS among employees occupationally exposed to ELF-MF. Further studies based on morbidity data are warranted.

ISSN:1044-3983    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:1044-3983    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

BackgroundRecent studies have suggested that agricultural occupations or exposure to pesticides may impair female fertility.MethodsThe Fertility Risk Factor Study retrospectively examined agricultural and residential exposures and the risk of female infertility. Cases and controls (N = 322 each) came from women who sought treatment at a large group medical clinic in Wisconsin. Women and their male partners provided information on health, occupational and lifestyle exposures in response to a telephone interview during 1997-2001.ResultsMixing and applying herbicides 2 years before attempting conception was more common among infertile women (odds ratio [OR] = 27; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.9-380), as was the use of fungicides (OR = 3.3; CI = 0.8-13). Residing on a farm, ranch or in a rural area during this time period was protective of female fertility. Households supplied with central Wisconsin groundwater were at less risk for infertility than households using municipal sources (OR = 0.6; CI = 0.4-0.9). Behavioral risk factors included alcohol consumption (OR = 1.8; 1.2-2.5), smoking (1.6; 0.9-2.9), passive smoke exposure (1.8; 1.2-2.5), steady weight gain in adult life (3.5; 2.0-6.1), and having a male partner over the age of 40 (4.5; 1.2–16.3). Drinking 3 or more glasses of milk per day was protective of female fertility (0.3; 0.1-0.7).ConclusionThese results suggest that certain agricultural, residential and lifestyle choices may modify the risk of female infertility.

ISSN:1044-3983    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID