Epidemiologic research on the role of fibers and other elongate mineral particles (EMP) and human diseases including cancers has generated a large body of literature over the last decades: nevertheless, there remain some questions for which the scientific community appears unable to reach consensus. Reasons for genuine differences in opinion include (i) ways in which exposures have been classified; (ii) methodological limitations of the available studies, (iii) criteria for the interpretation of study results, including potential underlying biological mechanisms, and (iv) methodology for integrating the evidence. Various approaches have been proposed in recent years to address these issues, which will be illustrated using examples from asbestos, talc, taconite, synthetic mineral fibers and silicon carbide, with emphasis on potential carcinogenic effects. Potential solutions include improved exposure and outcome assessment – including use of biomarkers and other molecular approaches, consideration of potential confounding and other sources of bias, implementation of guidelines for study quality assessment and evidence evaluation and integration. © 2018
Boffetta, P., Mundt, K.A., Thompson, W.J. (2018). The epidemiologic evidence for elongate mineral particle (EMP)-related human cancer risk. TOXICOLOGY AND APPLIED PHARMACOLOGY, 361, 100-106 [10.1016/j.taap.2018.09.021].
The epidemiologic evidence for elongate mineral particle (EMP)-related human cancer risk
Boffetta, P.;
2018
Abstract
Epidemiologic research on the role of fibers and other elongate mineral particles (EMP) and human diseases including cancers has generated a large body of literature over the last decades: nevertheless, there remain some questions for which the scientific community appears unable to reach consensus. Reasons for genuine differences in opinion include (i) ways in which exposures have been classified; (ii) methodological limitations of the available studies, (iii) criteria for the interpretation of study results, including potential underlying biological mechanisms, and (iv) methodology for integrating the evidence. Various approaches have been proposed in recent years to address these issues, which will be illustrated using examples from asbestos, talc, taconite, synthetic mineral fibers and silicon carbide, with emphasis on potential carcinogenic effects. Potential solutions include improved exposure and outcome assessment – including use of biomarkers and other molecular approaches, consideration of potential confounding and other sources of bias, implementation of guidelines for study quality assessment and evidence evaluation and integration. © 2018I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
