263 The risk of redemption of asthma pharmaceuticals among welders: a nationwide follow-up study

Abstract

Results Methodologically simple research papers identified targets for disease prevention early on in both industries: from 1918 for silicon carbide, and from 1936 for primary aluminium. Later and more complicated studies of disease mechanisms, and studies involving detailed exposure characterisations, do not seem to have served preventive practice to any great extent. The scientific community tends to support stakeholders request for more research before lowering of TLVs or reducing exposure. Disagreement about what constitutes evidence has delayed prevention and stimulated research, but the research questions were not always relevant for prevention. The Norwegian regulatory model, with environmental standards based on tripartite consensus, may have discouraged technological innovation. Conclusions Regulatory authorities must accept documentation of harmful exposure as sufficient evidence, long before the scientific community is ready to reject the null hypothesis of no risk. Quasi-experimental prevention can eradicate disease earlier than prevention based on too much evidence. But we may never know exactly why our efforts seemed to work.