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R R Cook

Publications and source records attributed to R R Cook.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Preliminary evaluation of an employer-sponsored mammography screening program.

Recognizing the importance of early detection of breast cancer, the Dow Chemical Company initiated a breast cancer awareness program in 1988. Evaluation of operational aspects of mammography screening component revealed that about half (53%) of 1186 eligible women in the evaluation cohort took part, although participation was three times higher for active than for retired employees. Eleven per cent of participants were considered to have "positive" screens, ie, had roentgenogram films with suspicious areas, and at least 82% of these women had follow-up medical services within 1 year of screening, as determined by a review of group insurance claims records. Two women with positive mammograms were subsequently diagnosed and treated for breast cancer within 2 months of screening. None of the women with negative mammograms developed breast cancer in the subsequent year. The suitability of group insurance data resources for responding to health care delivery questions is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Mortality among workers engaged in the development or manufacture of styrene-based products--an update.

Mortality was updated another 11 years through 1986 for a previously studied cohort of 2904 male chemical workers who were potentially exposed to styrene and related materials for a year or more between 1937 and 1971. Substantial deficits in mortality from all causes and total cancer were observed in the cohort when it was compared with white males in the United States, and also other chemical workers who were unexposed to styrene-based products. Mortality from leukemia was slightly less than expected during the updated period, in contrast to an excess of lymphatic leukemia observed in the original period. Yet small elevations in risk of other types of lymphatic cancer, particularly multiple myeloma, persisted. The risk of these cancers did not increase with estimated intensity or duration of styrene exposure. The findings are discussed in context with those of studies of similarly exposed workers in related industries.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed1991

Code of ethics for epidemiologists.

The importance of a written code of ethics for epidemiologists is growing. This paper explores the reasons for developing such a code and the issues that should be addressed during its implementation. It concludes with recommendations on format and content. The latter includes sections on obligations epidemiologists have to subjects, society, funders and employers and colleagues.

Bias↗
PubMed1991

A comparison of cause-specific mortality among participants and nonparticipants in a work-site medical surveillance program.

Nonparticipants in general population health surveys have been found to be less healthy than participants, but data on nonparticipants in work-site health surveys have been more scarce. We compared cause-specific mortality among 11,156 male employees of The Dow Chemical Company who participated in at least one work-site health examination between 1967 and 1978 with 6915 employees who did not participate. The nonparticipants experienced higher mortality rates for nearly every cause of death examined but particularly from smoking and alcohol-abuse related diseases. This was especially true during the first 5 years of follow-up, suggesting that some employees do not participate because they are already ill. These findings have important implications for the use of examination data for both primary and secondary disease prevention purposes, and these are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Overview of good epidemiologic practices.

The results of epidemiologic research are increasingly being used by those who establish health policy in the private and public sector. To increase the contribution such information might make to the decision-making process, a number of organizations have made recommendations for improvements in epidemiologic practices. ERIC, the Epidemiology Resource Information Center, a pilot project of the Chemical Manufacturers Association, has developed "Guidelines for Good Epidemiology Practices." This document provides recommendations regarding organization and personnel; facilities, resource commitment, and contractors; protocol; review and approval procedures; study conduct; communication of study results; archiving of study materials and data; and quality assurance. Although intended for use by those in the private sector who conduct environmental and industrial epidemiology, it should have utility for the entire profession.

Chemical Industry↗
PubMed1990

Liver and biliary tract cancer among chemical workers.

A recent cohort mortality study of male, hourly wage employees of a large Michigan chemical production and research facility had found a greater than expected number of deaths coded to liver and biliary tract cancer. In response, an additional investigation was then undertaken of the 44 liver and biliary tract cancer deaths observed between 1940 and 1982. A random sample (N = 1,888) of subjects was selected from the total cohort (N = 21,437) to serve as referents. Company work history records were used to classify cases and referents by work area assignment and potential for exposure to 11 selected chemical agents which have been shown to produce cancer of the liver or biliary passages in experimental animals. Statistically significant associations in both positive and negative directions were found for several work areas within the facility. A suggestive association was found for vinyl chloride monomer, based on five cases with presumed exposure.

Biliary Tract Neoplasms↗
PubMed1989

POM advertising.

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Advertising↗
PubMed1989

Mortality comparisons of chemical workers hired before, during, and after World War II (1941-1945).

Cause-specific mortality was evaluated by period of hire for 37,682 male chemical workers in order to test the hypothesis that employees hired during World War II (1941-1945) were at increased risk for selected causes of death. One recent study of refinery workers reported that those hired during the war years had experienced greater mortality from external causes (accidents, homicides, and suicides), alcoholism, and cancers of several sites relative to employees hired before or after the war. In the present study, employees were divided into three period-of-hire subcohorts: prior to 1941, 1941-1945 (World War II), and 1946 and after. Comparison of observed mortality among these subcohorts through 1982 was made with expected levels based on age- and calendar year-specific U.S. white male rats. Neither hourly nor salaried employees hired during the war showed evidence of higher mortality from homicide, suicide, alcoholism, or any of the selected cancer types suggested from the refinery study. Hourly, but not salaried, war years new hires experienced excessive mortality from only those accidents involving motor vehicles. Possible reasons for the discrepant findings between this and the earlier study of refinery workers are discussed, with methodological differences being dismissed.

Cause of Death↗