Using Molecular Epidemiology in Assessing Exposure for Risk Assessment

Abstract

Quantitative estimation of health risks depends on exposure characterization, the nature of the dose response relationships, and the toxicity of the agents involved. The greatest uncertainties in risk assessment almost always arise from sparse or inadequate exposure data, inadequate understanding of exposure mechanisms, and insufficient understanding of the exposure-dose-response pathway. Additional sources of uncertainty arise when mixed or multiple exposures are implicated in the disease pathway, and as a result of variability in both exposures and responses within and between individuals. Here we consider the role of exposure assessment in the risk assessment process, the use of biological markers or molecular epidemiology to contribute to improvements in exposure assessment for risk assessment, and uncertainties associated with the use of biological markers.

Epidemiology of carcinogen metabolism genes and risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

“…[4][5][6][7] The term molecular epidemiology has been used to describe the ''incorporation of molecular, cellular, and physiologic biomarkers as dependent and independent variables in epidemiologic explorations of relationships between markers with either health outcomes or other markers within populations.'' 8 Biomarkers can be broadly categorized into 3 types: exposure, effect, and susceptibility biomarkers. Regardless of the type, the ultimate goal of using a biomarker is to provide a more accurate risk assessment.…”

Use of Obesity Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Epidemiology

“…), or based on the disease of inter-est (e.g., cardiovascular biomarkers, obesity biomarkers, etc.) [4,5]. Thus, a biomarker may reflect different concepts; for example, C-reactive protein (CRP) may be classified as a marker of inflammation, a marker of obesity, or a marker of CVD.…”

Biomarkers, Bioindicators, and Ecological Risk Assessment—A Brief Review and Evaluation

“…Following this discussion, several consensus recommendations are suggested for increasing the contribution of biomarkers and bioindicators in assessing ecological risk. Schulte and Waters (1999) previously explored a general rationale for incorporating biomarkers into an improved approach for risk assessment (Figure 1). More traditional risk assessments emphasize the derivation of empirical or process-oriented relationships between some measure of exposure external to the organism and a corresponding lethal or sublethal response of interest.…”

“…Rationale for using biomarkers to assess risk (adapted fromSchulte and Waters 1999). Downloaded by [University of California Santa Barbara] at 12:06 27 June 2016…”