We investigated interobserver variation between three physician readers in the independent classification of chest radiographs from 1771 taconite workers for pneumoconiosis. We analysed variation with a general methodology for the analysis of categorical data, and quantified interobserver agreement in terms of kappa-type statistics. The results revealed considerable variation in the profusion of opacities reported by each observer. This was especially so for the earliest radiographic changes, but variation also occurred with the small number of films in the series showing category 2 pneumoconiosis or over. Variation in the classification of profusion of small opacities was greater in films of poor quality, and also increased with the length of time between taking and reading the film (film age). We could not account for the effect of film age by controlling for film quality, as subjectively assessed by the readers.

Epidemiologic Methods↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Relation of daily mortality to air pollution: an analysis of 14 London winters, 1958/59-1971/72.

The relationship between daily deaths and daily concentrations of Smoke and SO2 in London, England for 14 winters during the years 1958-1959 through 1971-1972 has been explored. Three types of analyses were used: (1) year-by-year multiple regression; (2) stratification using nested quartiles of one pollutant within quartiles of the other; and (3) multiple regression of a special subset of high pollution days. An association was found with Smoke, but not with SO2. Whether a linear model with zero threshold or a threshold model best fits could not be determined unambiguously because of a statistical artifact. Reasons for preferring a threshold-type quadratic model are given.

Air Pollutants↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of cooking fuels on lung function in nonsmoking women.

A case-control study of 20- to 39-yr-old female participants in the Tecumseh Community Health Study compared use of cooking fuels and other factors in women from the highest and lowest quartiles of the lung function distribution. The forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1.0) was used as the index of ventilatory lung function. The use of a kitchen exhaust fan was significantly associated with low lung function. A larger proportion of women with low FEV1.0 used gas for cooking, but this difference was not statistically significant.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prognosis in osteogenic sarcoma.

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Adult↗