Biomarkers, Molecular Epidemiological Study And Occupational Health: Conception And Practices

Research on genetic susceptibility biomarkers can provide a molecular basis for interindividual variations in metabolizing drugs and toxic chemicals. In addition to providing this mechanistic information, the studies hold great promise in identifying chemicals which individuals may be susceptible to and protecting them from environmental toxicity. This is particularly important in the prevention of chemical toxicity due to occupational exposure. Recently, research activities in this field have grown rapidly. However, we are facing the following challenges. Firstly, most of the efforts have focussed on the association between gene and cancer endpoints, whereas less energy has been directed towards the association between genes and the biomarkers of both exposure and early effects. Secondly, case-control design is commonly used for examining the interaction between genetic susceptibility markers and environmental exposures. The most ideal design is the cohort study since it can overcome the deficiencies encountered in case-control studies. To explore the genetic susceptibility biomarkers we can perform a follow up on a cohort, detect the exposed carcinogen level and assay some multi-stage endpoints before the appearance of chemical induced cancer in an occupationally exposed population, occurs.