Seixas N S, Robins T G, Rice C H, Moulton L H
Department of Environmental and Industrial Health, University of Michigan, School of Public Health, Ann Arbor 48109-2029.
Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 1990 Oct;51(10):534-40. doi: 10.1080/15298669091370059.
Systematic errors in exposure data will result in biased estimates of the exposure-response relationship derived from epidemiologic analyses. Thus, adjustment of exposure data to account for identified errors may provide for a more accurate assessment of effect. In preparing to apply respirable coal mine dust exposure data collected by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to a study of the pulmonary status of underground coal miners, an assessment of potential systematic errors was undertaken. Potential errors stemming from adjustment of controls during sampling, concentration-dependent sampling, truncation of sampling results, identified sampling equipment problems, and a disproportionate number of low concentration samples in mine operator-collected samples were identified and evaluated. Methods to account for these errors and adjust mean exposures by mine, occupation, and year are given.
