Andrea Odessa Smith, BA, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4P9, Canada, (902) 494-8348, andrea.smith@dal.ca and Jason Scott Robert, PhD, Center for Biology and Society and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874701, Tempe, AZ 85287-4701.

Toxic epidemiology: Environmental genomics and population health

Some of the greatest threats to our health arise from exposure to environmental agents. Here we evaluate strategies, such as those employed within the Environmental Genome Project, that seek to identify populations possessing genetic susceptibilities to environmental exposure. This knowledge will reduce error in assessments of individuals’ risk of developing environmentally-induced disease. We will contest two assumptions of environmental genomics research: (1) populations are merely aggregates of individuals; (2) variation between individuals is the result of endogenous properties of individuals. We will then provide examples of conceptual and methodological issues which arise when epidemiologists assume either (1) or (2). By elucidating the conceptual assumptions of environmental genomics research, we will demonstrate that measures of risk assessment (relative risk) are neither sufficient nor entirely appropriate for understanding incidence and prevalence.

Learning Objectives: Participants in this session will be able to

• identify the conceptual assumptions of environmental genomics research;
• detect methodological issues raised by conceptual assumptions of environmental genomics research;
• develop an understanding of the relationship between risk assessment and prevalence.

Keywords: Epidemiology, Environmental Exposures

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.