Challenges in defining thresholds for health effects: some considerations for asbestos and silica.

Frontiers in epidemiology Pub Date : 2025-03-17 eCollection Date: 2025-01-01 DOI:10.3389/fepid.2025.1557023
Julie E Goodman, Lorenz R Rhomberg, Samuel M Cohen, Kenneth A Mundt, Bruce Case, Igor Burstyn, Michael J Becich, Graham Gibbs
{"title":"Challenges in defining thresholds for health effects: some considerations for asbestos and silica.","authors":"Julie E Goodman, Lorenz R Rhomberg, Samuel M Cohen, Kenneth A Mundt, Bruce Case, Igor Burstyn, Michael J Becich, Graham Gibbs","doi":"10.3389/fepid.2025.1557023","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This paper summarizes several presentations in the Thresholds in Epidemiology and Risk Assessment session at the Monticello III conference. These presentations described evidence regarding thresholds for particles, including asbestos and silica, and cancer (e.g., mesothelioma) and noncancer (e.g., silicosis) endpoints. In the case of exposure to various types of particles and malignancy, it is clear that even though a linear non-threshold model has often been assumed, experimental and theoretical support for thresholds exist (e.g., through particle clearance, repair mechanisms, and various other aspects of the carcinogenic process). For mesothelioma and exposure to elongate mineral particles (EMPs), there remains controversy concerning the epidemiological demonstration of thresholds. However, using data from the Québec mining cohort studies, it was shown that a \"practical\" threshold exists for chrysotile exposure and mesothelioma. It was also noted that, in such evaluations, measurement error in diagnosis and exposure assessment needs to be incorporated into risk analyses. Researchers were also encouraged to use biobanks that collect specimens and data on mesothelioma to more precisely define cases of mesothelioma and possible variants for cases of all ages, and trends that may help define background rates and distinguish those mesotheliomas related to EMP exposures from those that are not, as well as other factors that support or define thresholds. New statistical approaches have been developed for identifying and quantifying exposure thresholds, an example of which is described for respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure and silicosis risk. Finally, the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to considering the multiple factors influencing risk and thresholds may prove useful.</p>","PeriodicalId":73083,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in epidemiology","volume":"5 ","pages":"1557023"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11955591/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Frontiers in epidemiology","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fepid.2025.1557023","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/1/1 0:00:00","PubModel":"eCollection","JCR":"","JCRName":"","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0

Abstract

This paper summarizes several presentations in the Thresholds in Epidemiology and Risk Assessment session at the Monticello III conference. These presentations described evidence regarding thresholds for particles, including asbestos and silica, and cancer (e.g., mesothelioma) and noncancer (e.g., silicosis) endpoints. In the case of exposure to various types of particles and malignancy, it is clear that even though a linear non-threshold model has often been assumed, experimental and theoretical support for thresholds exist (e.g., through particle clearance, repair mechanisms, and various other aspects of the carcinogenic process). For mesothelioma and exposure to elongate mineral particles (EMPs), there remains controversy concerning the epidemiological demonstration of thresholds. However, using data from the Québec mining cohort studies, it was shown that a "practical" threshold exists for chrysotile exposure and mesothelioma. It was also noted that, in such evaluations, measurement error in diagnosis and exposure assessment needs to be incorporated into risk analyses. Researchers were also encouraged to use biobanks that collect specimens and data on mesothelioma to more precisely define cases of mesothelioma and possible variants for cases of all ages, and trends that may help define background rates and distinguish those mesotheliomas related to EMP exposures from those that are not, as well as other factors that support or define thresholds. New statistical approaches have been developed for identifying and quantifying exposure thresholds, an example of which is described for respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure and silicosis risk. Finally, the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to considering the multiple factors influencing risk and thresholds may prove useful.

确定健康影响阈值方面的挑战:关于石棉和二氧化硅的一些考虑。
本文总结了Monticello III会议流行病学和风险评估阈值会议上的几份报告。这些报告描述了关于颗粒阈值的证据,包括石棉和二氧化硅,以及癌症(如间皮瘤)和非癌症(如矽肺)终点。在暴露于各种类型的颗粒和恶性肿瘤的情况下,很明显,尽管经常假设线性非阈值模型,但存在对阈值的实验和理论支持(例如,通过颗粒清除,修复机制和致癌过程的各种其他方面)。对于间皮瘤和暴露于细长矿物颗粒(EMPs),关于阈值的流行病学论证仍然存在争议。然而,使用来自quacembec采矿队列研究的数据显示,温石棉暴露和间皮瘤存在一个“实际”阈值。还有人指出,在这种评价中,诊断和接触评估中的测量误差需要纳入风险分析。研究人员还被鼓励使用收集间皮瘤标本和数据的生物银行,以更精确地定义间皮瘤病例和所有年龄段病例的可能变异,以及可能有助于确定背景率和区分与电磁脉冲暴露相关的间皮瘤与非间皮瘤的趋势,以及支持或定义阈值的其他因素。已经开发了新的统计方法来确定和量化暴露阈值,其中一个例子描述了可呼吸性结晶二氧化硅(RCS)暴露和矽肺病风险。最后,应用人工智能(AI)来考虑影响风险和阈值的多种因素可能是有用的。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
求助全文
约1分钟内获得全文 求助全文
来源期刊
自引率
0.00%
发文量
0
×
引用
GB/T 7714-2015
复制
MLA
复制
APA
复制
导出至
BibTeX EndNote RefMan NoteFirst NoteExpress
×
提示
您的信息不完整,为了账户安全,请先补充。
现在去补充
×
提示
您因"违规操作"
具体请查看互助需知
我知道了
×
提示
确定
请完成安全验证×
copy
已复制链接
快去分享给好友吧!
我知道了
右上角分享
点击右上角分享
0
联系我们:info@booksci.cn Book学术提供免费学术资源搜索服务,方便国内外学者检索中英文文献。致力于提供最便捷和优质的服务体验。 Copyright © 2023 布克学术 All rights reserved.
京ICP备2023020795号-1
ghs 京公网安备 11010802042870号
Book学术文献互助
Book学术文献互助群
群 号:481959085
Book学术官方微信