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Showing papers by "Frank E. Speizer published in 1982"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Pulmonary function of approximately 200 school children in Steubenville, OH was measured before and immediately following air pollution alerts in the fall of 1978 and 1979 and in the spring and fall of 1980.
Abstract: Pulmonary function of approximately 200 school children in Steubenville, OH was measured before and immediately following air pollution alerts in the fall of 1978 and 1979. TSP concentrations exceeded the National Primary Ambient Air Quality 24 h standards in 1978. SO2 exceeded the standard in 1979. The children were then reexamined in three weekly visits following each alert. Estimated mean Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) was approximately 2% lower following each alert, although the lowest means were observed one to two weeks after the episodes. Forced Expired Volume in 0.75 sec (FEV0.75) did not change during the 1978 study, but was 4% lower immediately following the 1979 alert. The children were measured again in five weekly examinations in the spring and fall of 1980. Air pollution levels did not exceed the standards on either occasion. In the spring of 1980, estimated mean FVC and FEV0.75 showed a decline similar to that observed following the alerts in 1978 and 1979. In the fall of 1980, there were no s...

153 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: There was no overall relationship between a prior history of oral contraceptive use and the development of melanoma among 141 cases of nonfatal malignant melanoma and 2,820 age-matched controls drawn from respondents to a large postal survey of registered U.S. nurses.
Abstract: There was no overall relationship between a prior history of oral contraceptive (OC) use and the development of melanoma among 141 cases of nonfatal malignant melanoma and 2,820 age matched controls drawn from respondents to a large postal survey of registered U.S. nurses; crude relative risk (RR) was 0.93 and 95% confidence limits (Cl) were between 0.64 and 1.36. Adjustment for a number of additional variables did not alter this estimate materially. Duration of OC use and interval since first use were similarly unrelated to the occurrence of melanoma. For women diagnosed before age 40, there was a crude positive association of ever use of OC and melanoma (RR=1.78; 95% Cl, 1.11-2.86). However, adjustment for geography and other variables diminished this association and rendered it statistically not significant (RR=1.43; 95% Cl, 0.83-2.46). These data do not support the hypothesis that OC use is an independent risk factor for melanoma.

67 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Among current smokers, the number of cigarettes smoked per day was consistently the strongest risk factor for chronic cough, chronic phlegm, wheeze, and dyspnea and ex-smokers showed risks between those of current and never smokers.
Abstract: Standardized respiratory disease questionnaires (ATS-DLD-78) were administered to 5,686 adult women. Risk factors were evaluated by logistic analysis that adjusted for multiple potential confounding factors. Among current smokers, the number of cigarettes smoked per day was consistently the strongest risk factor for chronic cough, chronic phlegm, wheeze, and dyspnea. The odds ratios for these symptoms in a smoker of 25 or more cigarettes per day relative to a smoker of 1--14 cigarettes per day were 4.74, 4.21, 2.05, and 3.71, respectively. Ex-smokers showed risks between those of current and never smokers. Cigarette tar content was a significant independent risk factor for chronic cough (p = 0.005) and of borderline significance for chronic phlegm (p = 0.077). High tar cigarette smokers in this population (average, 22 mg) had an odds ratio of 2.01 for chronic cough and 1.59 for chronic phlegm relative to low tar cigarette smokers (average, 7 mg). The effect of cigarette tar was linear and independent of cigarettes smoked per day. Smoke inhalation was a significant risk factor for chronic cough (p = 0.029) and for chronic phlegm (p = 0.038). Tar content and smoke inhalation were not significant risk factors for wheeze or dyspnea. Cigarette particulate content (tar) appears to be causally linked to cough and phlegm production., but the association of cigarette smoking and symptoms of wheeze and dyspnea may be more strongly related to the vapor phase of cigarette smoke.

40 citations