L T Stayner1, J J Collins2, Y L Guo3, D Heederik4, M Kogevinas5,6,7,8, K Steenland9, C Wesseling10, P A Demers11. 1. Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Public Health, Chicago, IL, USA. lstayner@uic.edu. 2. Health and Human Services, Saginaw Valley State University, 7400 Bay Road University Center, Saginaw, MI, USA. 3. Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and NTU Hospital, 1, Sec. 1, Jen-Ai Road, 100, Taipei, Taiwan. 4. Utrecht University, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, PO Box 80178, 3508 TD, Utrecht, Netherlands. 5. ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain. 6. CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain. 7. Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain. 8. IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain. 9. Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA, USA. 10. Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine (IMM), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 11. Occupational Cancer Research Centre, Cancer Care Ontario, 505 University Ave., 17th floor, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: There are many opportunities and challenges for conducting occupational epidemiologic studies today. In this paper, we summarize the discussion of a symposium held at the Epidemiology in Occupational Health (EPICOH) conference, Chicago 2014, on challenges for occupational epidemiology in the twenty-first century. RECENT FINDINGS: The increasing number of publications and attendance at our conferences suggests that worldwide interest in occupational epidemiology has been growing. There are clearly abundant opportunities for new research in occupational epidemiology. Areas ripe for further work include developing improved methods for exposure assessment, statistical analysis, studying migrant workers and other vulnerable populations, the use of biomarkers, and new hazards. Several major challenges are also discussed such as the rapidly changing nature and location of work, lack of funding, and political/legal conflicts. As long as work exists there will be occupational diseases that demand our attention, and a need for epidemiologic studies designed to characterize these risks and to support the development of preventive strategies. Despite the challenges and given the important past contribution in this field, we are optimistic about the importance and continued vitality of the research field of occupational epidemiology.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: There are many opportunities and challenges for conducting occupational epidemiologic studies today. In this paper, we summarize the discussion of a symposium held at the Epidemiology in Occupational Health (EPICOH) conference, Chicago 2014, on challenges for occupational epidemiology in the twenty-first century. RECENT FINDINGS: The increasing number of publications and attendance at our conferences suggests that worldwide interest in occupational epidemiology has been growing. There are clearly abundant opportunities for new research in occupational epidemiology. Areas ripe for further work include developing improved methods for exposure assessment, statistical analysis, studying migrant workers and other vulnerable populations, the use of biomarkers, and new hazards. Several major challenges are also discussed such as the rapidly changing nature and location of work, lack of funding, and political/legal conflicts. As long as work exists there will be occupational diseases that demand our attention, and a need for epidemiologic studies designed to characterize these risks and to support the development of preventive strategies. Despite the challenges and given the important past contribution in this field, we are optimistic about the importance and continued vitality of the research field of occupational epidemiology.
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