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 Occupational
Health Studies A leading electronics manufacturer, concerned
about the possibility of health hazards from radio frequency
(RF) energy, commissioned Exponent to design and conduct a
series of health studies. We used cohort mortality and case-control
designs to study the client's large workforce, because employees
were more likely to have had higher exposures than other potential
study groups. We used employee work histories, product information,
interviews with technical personnel, and exposure measurement
data to assess exposure in the study cohort. Exponent statisticians
handled vast amounts of data in performing the statistical
analysis. Publication of study results is forthcoming. The
results will help settle current controversies concerning
safety of RF-emitting devices.
Occupational Injury Epidemiology Electric utility
linemen and meter readers have relatively high work-related
injury rates. Exponent epidemiologists applied injury epidemiology
techniques to evaluate the impacts of work activities, age,
job experience, and prior work injury on workplace injury
risk. The findings from these studies aided in the design
and implementation of injury prevention programs in the electric
utility industry.
Risk/Benefit Analysis of Analgesic Use Exponent epidemiologists
were retained by a pharmaceutical industry trade association
to compare potential complications among users of different
types of analgesics. Exponent staff developed medical decision
trees to describe relevant potential adverse effects of analgesic
use. We also performed a comprehensive literature search and
review regarding adverse effect rates for each drug and the
clinical severity of each adverse effect. We supplemented
our analysis with structured interviews of medical specialists,
and data derived from a statewide hospital discharge database.
Using these estimates, we demonstrated substantial differences
in mortality rates among users of two types of analgesics.
 Health
Effects from Trichloroethylene Exposure A large aerospace
manufacturer retained Exponent health scientists to study
the potential health effects of exposure to trichloroethylene
(TCE) in drinking water. As is the case with many environmental
health issues, the workplace provided the best option for
risk evaluation. Historically, TCE was used at the plants
as a degreaser and was present in plant drinking water. Working
with company industrial hygienists, we developed a job exposure
matrix to characterize workers' TCE exposure. Using sophisticated
statistical and epidemiological methods, we performed a cohort
mortality analysis of the aerospace worker cohort to evaluate
whether workplace exposures had caused any elevation of cancer
risk. Exponent epidemiologists summarized the health findings
in a peer-reviewed manuscript. This health analysis provided
important information to refute claims of major health effects
from contamination of the city water supply.
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