Yale Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program

Research Activities

Overview of ongoing research in Occupational and Environmental Medicine:

Research activities include epidemiologic, clinical and experimental laboratory investigations. Resources include the Adult Clinical Research Center, inhalation exposure chambers and laboratories at the John B. Pierce laboratory, and the specialized laboratories of principal investigators throughout the medical center. Collaborations are ongoing with investigators in many departments at Yale as well as outside institutions.

Current research interests include:

• Biological markers and determinants of fibrosis and carcinogenesis in workers with asbestosis
• Chemoprevention trial for lung cancer in asbestos-exposed workers using vitamin A and beta-carotene
• The causes and effects of lead poisoning in bridge construction workers
• Respiratory risks of isocyanate exposure in autobody spray painters (mechanisms of isocyanate asthma)
  SPRAY: Survey of Painters and Repairers of Autobodies by Yale
• Pathogenesis of isocyanate asthma
  
• Strategies for control of tuberculosis and other occupational risks among health care workers

Recent publications include:

Omenn GS, Goodman GE, Thornquist MD, Balmes J, Cherniack MG, Cullen MR, et al. Effects of the combination of beta-carotene and vitamin A on lung cancer incidence, total mortality and cardiovascular mortality in smokers and asbestos workers. New England J Med 1996; 334: 1150-5.

Redlich CA, Sparer J, Cullen MR. Sick-building syndrome Lancet 1997; 349: 1013-1016.

Russi M, Dubrow R, Cullen M, Flannery J, Mayne S. Machining fluids and laryngeal cancer: Contrasting results using two control groups. American Journal of Industrial Medicine 1997; 31: 166-71.

Redlich CA, Homer RJ, Smith BR, et al. Immunologic responses to isocyanates in sensitized asthmatic subjects. Chest 1996; 109: 6(s)-8(s).

Cullen, MR. Epidemiologic Methods for the Study of Occupational Asthma. Chest 1996; 109: 51S-54S.

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