Job—Exposure Matrices and Retrospective Exposure Assessment in the Pulp and Paper Industry

Abstract

For the purpose of performing a case—control study, the information regarding the exposures of 30,000 pulp and paper workers was organized into 90 job-exposure matrices. Semiquantitative exposure estimates were assigned to each combination of job title and chemical or group of chemicals. The methodology used to assess exposures incorporated mill-specific and period-specific process information. An exhaustive review of processes, job titles, and chemicals coupled with the survey of each installation to evaluate equipment layout, collect hygiene data, and perform interviews of employees has yielded a comprehensive approach to estimating exposures retrospectively for the pulp and paper industry.