Topics in Environmental Epidemiology

Abstract This book gives a comprehensive survey of the epidemiology of common environmental exposures, including diet, water, particulates in outdoor air, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, environmental tobacco smoke, radon in homes, electromagnetic fields, and lead. Design and analysis issues, risk assessment and meta-analysis, and future directions in environmental epidemiology are also covered. All chapters provide a review of the literature as well as a discussion of important methodologic issues, particularly exposure assessment and statistical methods. The book's focus is on environmental exposures that are suspected of causing disease, but often remain controversial. Most of these exposures are widespread and low-level, and are thought to increase the risk of chronic diseases that have many causes. Although the disease risks due to these exposures may be low, the public health burden may be important because large numbers of people are exposed. Such exposures are inherently difficult to detect via observational epidemiology. This book seeks to clarify the challenges involved and suggests ways to move forward. It will be useful to students and practitioners of public health, environmental health, and epidemiology.