US EPA

2188893 

Journal Article 

Comment 

Cancer mortality at a transformer manufacturing plant: Cohort construction and analysis 

Yassi, A; Tate, R; Fish, D 

1995 

Yes 

American Journal of Industrial Medicine
ISSN: 0271-3586
EISSN: 1097-0274 

27 

6 

911-913 

English 

7645584 

10.1002/ajim.4700270615 

WOS:A1995QZ94600014 

We welcome the opportunity to respond to Dr. Wong’s exhaustive I19951 critique of our recent article “Cancer mortality in workers employed in a transformer manufacturing plant” [Yassi et al. 19941. He addresses many points that plague all occupational cohort studies, and his comments strengthen our general conclusions as stated in the last paragraph of our study (p. 435): “The need to investigate further pancreatic cancer in transformer manufacturing and related exposures is evident. It is also evident that better death certificate information regarding occupation, including date last worked, and more stringent requirements on employers to maintain accurate lists of employee groups is highly desirable. ”

Comments by Dr. Wong fall into three categories: (1) inadequacy of data, (2) unclear report presentation, and (3) inadequate literature review. We provide a general reply to each of these three areas. 

pancreatic cancer, epidemiologic cohort, mortality study, PCBs, occupational hazards,
record linkage