The assessment of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke

摘要

This paper examines the manner in which assessments of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) are used in epidemiological studies seeking to establish an association between such exposure and diseases such as lung cancer. Two such studies are described. A review of the literature shows that exposure to ETS is not accurately measured by subjective evaluations communicated via questionnaire. The inaccuracy is evident in situations where recent exposure is being measured and may reasonably be expected to be even greater when long-term exposure is at issue.