Role of Exposure Databases in Disease Surveillance and Occupational Epidemiology

Abstract

Occupational exposure databases are crucial tools in the field of occupational safety and health, yet researchers often do not realize their full potential. Exposure data can be used in many capacities, including risk assessment, disease surveillance, and evaluation of risk management policies and programs. Exposure data are also extremely useful in occupational epidemiology for discovering causal associations and dose—response relationships. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has used exposure data to target specific worker populations at risk for disease and injury and to target industries for the development of control technology. NIOSH uses its National Occupational Hazard Survey, National Occupational Exposure Survey, and National Occupational Health Survey of Mining, Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances, and NIOSHTIC bibliographic database, along with various external databases, as sources for exposure data. The assessment of exposure data is essential in identifying the causes of disease and in developing ways to prevent it. However, in order to use exposure data for the prevention of occupational disease and injury, the occupational safety and health community must use it more aggressively. Moreover, exposure data must be made universally accessible. If exposure databases are developed and used to their full potential, they will assist the occupational safety and health community in making more informed policy decisions. Lemen, R.A.: Role of Exposure Databases in Disease Surveillance and Occupational Epidemiology. Appl. Occup. Environ. Hyg. 10(4):400–401; 1995.