Prostate cancer and occupational whole-body vibration exposure.

Prostate cancer is common and its etiology largely unknown; therefore, it is important to explore all potential risk factors that are biologically plausible. Recent literature suggests a relationship between whole-body vibration (WBV) and prostate cancer risk. The aim of this study was to determine whether occupational WBV was a risk factor for prostate cancer.

Relationships between asthma and work exposures among non-domestic cleaners in Ontario.

Background: Cleaners have been reported to have increased risk for work-related asthma symptoms but few studies have studied non-domestic cleaners. In this study, we compared work-related asthma symptoms among cleaners and other building workers and determined associations with tasks.

Methods: School and racetrack workers in Ontario, Canada, completed a questionnaire to identify the prevalence of cleaning tasks, physician-diagnosed asthma, new-onset asthma, respiratory symptoms, and work-related asthma symptoms.

Personal factors influencing agreement between expert and self-reported assessments of an occupational exposure.

This study aimed to identify personal factors associated with expert and respondent agreement on past occupational exposure. Epidemiologic data was collected from 1995 to 1998 in a community-based, case-control study of prostate cancer. Using longest jobs and excluding agreement on "never" exposure, self-reported and expert estimates of ever/ never exposure, by skin or ingestion, to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were compared.

Prostate cancer risk and diet, recreational physical activity and cigarette smoking.

Associations between prostate cancer and dietary factors, physical activity and smoking were assessed based on data from a population-based case-control study. The study was conducted among residents of northeastern Ontario. Cases were identified from the Ontario Cancer Registry and diagnosed between 1995 and 1998 at ages 50 to 84 years (N=752).

Occupational risk factors for prostate cancer.

Background: Occupational risk factors for prostate cancer have been investigated with inconsistent findings.

Methods: This was a population-based case-control study of men in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. Cases (n = 760) were from the Ontario Cancer Registry, 50 to 84 years old, and diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1995 and 1998.

Sources of personal exposure to fine particles in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Individuals are exposed to particulate matter from both indoor and outdoor sources. The aim of this study was to compare the relative contributions of three sources of personal exposure to fine particles (PM2.5) by using chemical tracers.

Associations between personal exposures and fixed-site ambient measurements of fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide in Toronto, Canada.

A longitudinal study investigating personal exposures to PM(2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), and carbon monoxide (CO) for cardiac compromised individuals was conducted in Toronto, Canada. The aim of the study was (1) to examine the distribution of exposures to PM(2.

Pesticide exposures in professional turf applicators, job titles, and tasks performed: implications of exposure measurement error for epidemiologic study design and interpretation of results.

Background: Little information on the validity of job title and task classifications, for the prediction of pesticide use or exposure, is available.

Methods: Job titles and task classifications were evaluated in relation to the absorbed dose of herbicides in 98 professional turf applicators. Self-reported use over a 1-week period and other proxies of pesticide use were compared with employer records.

Medical history, sexual, and maturational factors and prostate cancer risk.

Purpose: Sexual, physical, and medical factors were investigated in a case-control study of prostate cancer.

Methods: This population-based study, conducted from 1995 to 1999 in northeastern Ontario, used cancer registry-identified cases (n=760), aged 45 to 84 years, diagnosed between 1995 and 1998. Age-frequency matched controls (n=1632) were obtained from telephone listings.

Development of models to predict dose of pesticides in professional turf applicators.

Epidemiologic studies designed to assess the chronic effects of pesticides are limited by inadequate measurements of exposures. Although cohort studies have been initiated to evaluate the effects of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and other pesticides in professional turf applicators, they may have limited power to detect significant health risks and may be subject to bias from exposure measurement error. In this study, the doses of 2,4-D, mecoprop [2-(4-chloro-2 methylphenoxy) propionic acid, MCPP] and dicamba (3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid) were evaluated in a group of 98 professional turf applicators from 20 companies across southwestern Ontario.