RE: Healthy Worker Effect

[rkathren@tricity.wsu.edu (ron kathren)]

Russ --

Joe Shonka is right on target with respect to the healthy worker effect.
The worker cohort, when compared with the general population (or even their
siblings) is biased for a number of reasons -- selectivity (they are
healthier to start with), company sponsored physical exams and medical plans
etc.

Ron Kathren

>> Date:          Wed, 20 Mar 96 13:20:44 -0600
>> Reply-to:      radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
>> From:          Shonka Research Associates Inc <sra@crl.com>
>> To:            Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
>> Subject:       RE: Healthy Worker Effect
>
>> Al
>> you know better.  Cancer incidence, mortality and morbidity are all
>> lower for "workers" regardless of industry than for unselected
>> members of the general public since the public includes young, old
>> and others who are not employed, including those whose physical
>> condition does not permit them to be employed.  When one compares the
>> cancer incidence rates with "national averages", one must correct for
>> "healthy worker effect" for any industry since workers are healthier
>> than national averages.  In order to show "hormesis" one must show
>> that nuclear workers are healthier than workers from comparable
>> industries (nuclear would have to show a "healthier than healthy
>> worker effect".  This would become fuzzy just as the NIC (not in
>> city) cohort is for the japanese survivors.
>> 
>> Joe Shonka
>> sra@crl.com
>> 
>Now I'm really confused!  I thought the " healthy worker effect" was 
>based on a comparison with workers in other industries.  Would some 
>one who actually did some of the work clarify where the expression 
> " healthy worker effect" came from and what is meant by that 
>expression.
>
>             ***************************************
>               Russ Meyer                            
>               Internet: cmeyer@brc1.tdh.state.tx.us 
>               tel: 512/834-6688

>               fax: 512/834-6654
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