Occupational lung diseases in the industrializing and industrialized world: commonalities and contrasts: measurement...

Research on occupational lung disease has been a growing challenge over the past 4 decades. Exposure to respiratory toxins has increased in many industrializing countries of the world while new and old hazards continue to exist in the industrialized world. The focus of this paper is on measurement tools commonly used in the study of occupational lung diseases. The emphasis is on epidemiology, a discipline which has contributed to the understanding and control of occupational lung disease. An examination of these tools reveals that (1) there are more commonalities than contrasts in available methods; (2) researchers in industrializing settings can contribute much to our understanding of occupational lung diseases; (3) international collaboration is needed in refining measurement tools; and (4) international collaboration should proceed on studies of preventive strategies.