American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 152, No. 1 : 1-3
Copyright © 2000 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health
John Snow and Modern-Day Environmental Epidemiology
From the Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, P.O. Box 12233Mail Drop A3-05, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.
What does an anecdote about John Snow have to do with modern-day epidemiology? And why use it to introduce an issue of the Journal highlighting the challenges of studying disease risks associated with low dose environmental exposures?
In this issue, Lilienfeld describes John Snow giving expert-witness testimony on behalf of industry (1
). Besides being interesting on a historical basis, this incident raises several issues that are pertinent today. Lilienfeld's paper and the accompanying commentary by Vandenbroucke (2
) deal directly or indirectly with the role and responsibilities of expert witnesses, the extrapolation of data on health effects from high dose exposures to low dose exposures, the importance of epidemiology to the development of public health policy, the current debates on environmental justice (3
), and the use of the precautionary principle (4
) in standard-setting. Furthermore, if faced with an issue similar to that faced by Snownamely, local residents'
NOTES
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Related articles in Am. J. Epidemiol.:
- Invited Commentary: The Testimony of Dr. Snow
- Jan P. Vandenbroucke
Am. J. Epidemiol. 2000 152: 10-12.[Extract] [FREE Full Text] - John Snow: The First Hired Gun?
- David E. Lilienfeld
Am. J. Epidemiol. 2000 152: 4-9.[Abstract] [FREE Full Text]
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