Chronic diseases and mortality among immigrants to Israel from areas contaminated by the Chernobyl disaster: a follow-up study.

Objectives: To examine six chronic diseases and all-cause mortality among immigrants to Israel from areas contaminated by the Chernobyl accident.

Methods: The medical data were obtained from the two largest HMOs in Israel. In the assessment of chronic diseases, individuals were divided into three groups: less exposed (n = 480), more exposed (n = 359), and liquidators (n = 45) and in the mortality analysis, into two groups: less exposed (n = 792) and more exposed (n = 590).

Potential role of selection bias in the association between childhood leukemia and residential magnetic fields exposure: a population-based assessment.

Purpose: Data from the Northern California Childhood Leukemia Study (NCCLS) were used to assess whether selection bias may explain the association between residential magnetic fields (assessed by wire codes) and childhood leukemia as previously observed in case-control studies.

Methods: Wiring codes were calculated for participating cases, n=310; and non-participating cases, n=66; as well as for three control groups: first-choice participating, n=174; first-choice non-participating, n=252; and replacement (non-first choice participating controls), n=220.

Results: Participating controls tended to be of higher socioeconomic status than non-participating controls, and lower socioeconomic status was related to higher wire-codes.

Reliability of maternal-reports regarding the use of household pesticides: experience from a case-control study of childhood leukemia.

Introduction: Self-reported household pesticide use has been associated with higher risk of childhood leukemia in a number of case-control studies. The aim of this study is to assess the reliability of self-reported household use of pesticides and potential differences in reliability by case-control status, and by socio-demographic characteristics.

Methods: Analyses are based on a subset of the Northern California Childhood Leukemia Study population.

Comparison of racial differences in childhood cancer risk in case-control studies and population-based cancer registries.

Introduction: Although selection bias in case-control studies has been studied extensively, little is known about selection of cases and controls among various ethnic groups. This study compares racial differences in childhood cancer rates as estimated by case-control studies with various design features. It also compares estimates of racial distribution among cases as reported by case-control studies to those observed for an ideal case series with complete ascertainment of cases for these studies or in population-based cancer registries in corresponding geographic regions and calendar periods.