Towards estimating occupational exposures reliably: experiences from the Pneumoconiosis Field Research.

The main purpose of this paper is to highlight a number of strategic issues which we consider important in estimation of dust exposure. Many of these issues are not new: the need to estimate exposures reliably has long been recognized by practitioners in epidemiology and occupational hygiene, and despite major developments of methods and technique, much of their experience is still relevant today. The Pneumoconiosis Field Research (PFR) of coalminers` respiratory health in Britain is an interesting case study in this regard. Started in 1953, the PFR included up to six medical surveys, at approximately 5-yearly intervals, of currently employed miners at first 24, and later 10, collieries in England, Scotland and Wales. In all, more than 50 000 miners participated. The general points about exposure estimation are therefore illustrated by examples from the PFR. A more comprehensive summary of that experience is in preparation. 36 refs.