Project Summary Measurement Error Estimation and Correction Methods to Minimize Exposure Misclassification in Epidemiological Studies

This project summary highlights recent findings from research undertaken to develop improved methods to assess potential human health risks related to drinking water disinfection byproduct (DBP) exposures. The primary objective of this research was to examine the utility of routinely collected monitoring data to estimate individual-level exposures in epidemiological studies. Another specific aim was to estimate the potential for exposure misclassification bias due to a variety of sources including (1) unmeasured spatial variability in town average surrogate measures and (2) lack of integration of individual water use practices data including exposure-modifying factors. In addition to quantifying potential exposure misclassification bias, we developed an approach to correct for measurement error that may cause this bias.