Developing estimates of frequency and intensity of exposure to three types of metalworking fluids in a population-based case-control study of bladder cancer

• Published in: American journal of industrial medicine 2014-08, Vol.57 (8), p.915-927
• Main Authors: Friesen, Melissa C., Park, Dong-Uk, Colt, Joanne S., Baris, Dalsu, Schwenn, Molly, Karagas, Margaret R., Armenti, Karla R., Johnson, Alison, Silverman, Debra T., Stewart, Patricia A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Bladder cancer; Case-Control Studies; case-control study; Decision Support Techniques; Estimates; exposure prediction model; Humans; Industrial Oils - classification; Industrial Oils - toxicity; Lubrication; Male; Medical sciences; Metallurgy - methods; metalworking fluids; Metalworking industry; Middle Aged; Multiple tumors. Solid tumors. Tumors in childhood (general aspects); Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; New England; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Occupational Exposure - analysis; Occupational medicine; Probability; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; retrospective exposure assessment; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tumors; Tumors of the urinary system; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - chemically induced; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - epidemiology; Urinary system involvement in other diseases. Miscellaneous; Urinary tract. Prostate gland
• ISSN: 0271-3586; 1097-0274
• DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22328

Background A systematic, transparent, and data‐driven approach was developed to estimate frequency and intensity of exposure to straight, soluble, and synthetic/semi‐synthetic metalworking fluids (MWFs) within a case–control study of bladder cancer in New England. Methods We assessed frequency using individual‐level information from job‐specific questionnaires wherever possible, then derived and applied job group‐level patterns to likely exposed jobs with less information. Intensity estimates were calculated using a statistical model developed from measurements and determinants extracted from the published literature. Results For jobs with probabilities of exposure ≥0.5, median frequencies were 8–10 hr/week, depending on MWF type. Median intensities for these jobs were 2.5, 2.1, and 1.0 mg/m3 for soluble, straight, and synthetic/semi‐synthetic MWFs, respectively. Conclusions Compared to case‐by‐case assessment, these data‐driven decision rules are transparent and reproducible and may result in less biased estimates. These rules can also aid future exposure assessments of MWFs in population‐based studies. Am. J. Ind. Med. 57:915–927, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.