Assessing the association between environmental exposures and human Health

Abstract

In environmental health studies, health effects, environmental exposures, and potential confounders are seldom collected during the study on the same set of units. Some, if not all of the variables, are often obtained from existing programs and databases. Suppose environmental exposure is measured at points, but health effects are recorded on areal units. Further assume that a regression analysis the explores the association between health and environmental exposure is to be conducted at the areal level. Prior to analysis, the information collected on exposure at points is used to predict exposure at the areal level, introducing uncertainty in exposure for the analysis units. Estimation of the regression coefficient associated with exposure and its standard error is considered here. A simulation study is used to provide insight into the effects of predicting exposure. Open issues are discussed. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010.