ABSTRACT
The estimation of exposure–response or dose–response relationships is a prerequisite for a rational approach to the setting of standards for human exposures to potentially toxic substances. When discussing dose– or exposure–response relationships it is important to define clearly what response one is talking about. A vast biostatistical literature has appeared on exposure–response and dose–response analyses. Summarizing this literature in a single chapter is a formidable task. In order to define response precisely it is important to have a clear idea of the various commonly used measures of disease frequency and of effect. Confounding arises in epidemiologic studies as a consequence of the fact that these are. Suppose one is interested in alcohol as a possible cause of oral cancer. Suppose that an epidemiologic study shows an association between alcohol consumption and oral cancer. The observed association between alcohol consumption and oral cancer may actually be due to the association between smoking and alcohol consumption.
