Significant issues raised by meta-analyses of cancer mortality and dioxin exposure.

Significant issues raised by meta-analyses of cancer mortality and dioxin exposure.

Consistent with results from an earlier U.S. Environmental Protection Agency meta-analysis of three occupational cohorts, Crump et al. [Environ Health Perspect 111:681-687 (2003)] recently concluded that "dioxin TEQ [toxic equivalent] exposures within roughly 3-fold of current background levels may be carcinogenic" to humans. In contrast, my meta-analysis using an intercept-only model implied z...

Dioxin: exposure-response analyses and risk assessment.

Low-levels of dioxin cause cancer in animals. In 1997 dioxin was found to be a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, based largely on four studies of industrial workers exposed to high levels. Recently there has been interest in estimating human cancer risk at low level environmental exposures. Here we review quantitative exposure-response analyses and risk assess...

Association between Environmental Dioxin-Related Toxicants Exposure and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Dioxin-related compounds are associated with teratogenic and mutagenic risks in laboratory animals, and result in adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, there were inconsistent results in epidemiology studies. In view of this difference, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine this association and to assess the heterogeneity among studies. Comprehensive literature searches w...

Statistical issues raised by the

Dioxin exposure and non-malignant health effects: a mortality study.

OBJECTIVE To investigate, in a population heavily exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), the possible unusual occurrence of diseases other than cancer. METHODS Five year extension of the follow up of the cohort involved in the Seveso accident. Soil measurements identified three exposure zones: (A) highest contamination, (B) substantial, and (R) low but higher than background c...