Wegman D H
Department of Work Environment, College of Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Lowell 01854.
Am J Public Health. 1992 Jul;82(7):944-54. doi: 10.2105/ajph.82.7.944.
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.
本报告回顾职业流行病学，将其作为工作场所疾病预防活动的基础。通过审视描述性、病因学和干预性职业流行病学研究，展示了流行病学在指导预防工作中已经发挥或可以发挥主要作用的一系列机会。所呈现的描述性研究包括基于生命记录、疫情调查、横断面调查和监测的研究。病因学研究回顾了在肺癌与石棉暴露以及异氰酸酯暴露对肺部影响方面知识的大量成功积累。然而，也关注对心血管疾病和肌肉骨骼疾病的工作环境风险进行病因学研究的必要性。最后，强调了干预性流行病学研究太少的问题。控制镍癌和矽肺等重大风险的历史实例，与近期降低心血管疾病和油疹等较小风险的成功实例相互平衡。通篇强调将流行病学这一学科重新融入将研究结果应用于预防工作场所风险的重要性。
