Re: Cancer Assessment Press Release

[rkathren@tricity.wsu.edu (Ron L. Kathren)]

Scott:  

How's this?

The 'healthy worker effect' is the reduced morbidity and mortality seen in
epidemiologic studies of worker groups as compared with the general
population or with other control groups, even siblings.  It is largely
attributable to preemployment selection (eg people who are hired are
healthy) and to periodic physical examinations in worker populations which
result in early detection and treatment of certain diseases which may
otherwise result in early fatality.

Ron Kathren, CHP


 At 10:56 AM 1/30/98 -0600, Scott D. Kniffin wrote:
>Otto and all,
>
>Would some one give me a readers digest/simple version of what 
>"healthy worker effect" is.  I've tried explaning this but (lay) people 
>just get lost in my long winded explanations.  I need to better my 
>communication skills again.  Thanks.
>
>Scott Kniffin
>
>Scott.D.Kniffin.1@gsfc.nasa.gov
>RSO, Unisys Corp. @ Lanham, MD
>CHO, Radiation Effects Facility, GSFC, NASA, Greenbelt, MD
>
>The opinions expressed here are my own.  They do not necessarily represent
>the views of Unisys Corporation or NASA.  This information has not been
>reviewed by my employer or supervisor.  
>
>At 10:35 01/30/98 -0600, you wrote:
>I will predict the results based on other studies of "nuclear workers":
>Persons working at Brookhaven will be found to have lower age-corrected
>cancer rates than other members of the population of Long Island or New
>York State. This will be discounted as the result of "the healthy worker
>effect."
>
>Otto
>		*****************************************************
>		Prof. Otto G. Raabe, Ph.D., CHP
>                [President, Health Physics Society, 1997-1998]
>		Institute of Toxicology & Environmental Health (ITEH)
>		     (Street address: Old Davis Road)
>		University of California, Davis, CA 95616
>		Phone: 530-752-7754  FAX: 530-758-6140 [NEW AREA CODE]
>		E-mail ograabe@ucdavis.edu
>
>