Apportionment of risk among environmental exposures: application to asbestos exposure and cigarette smoking.

A new method for assessing the attribution of risk for each of two exposures is developed. In one instance it generalizes a method now used to evaluate compensation for smokers who have been exposed to asbestos and it extends the notion of attributable risk. This method of apportioning risk is applicable in occupational settings where risk assessment and/or compensation is required and an application is presented.