A METHOD FOR ASSESSING ALTERNATIVE EFFECTS FUNCTIONS THAT USES SIMULATION WITH EMDEX DATA

A method for evaluating a variety of alternative biologically plausibl e effects functions through the use of simulation studies conducted on personal-monitor exposure data is described. Using magnetic field tim e series collected with EMDEX instruments, we demonstrate how the meth od can be used to explore I)how the outputs from various effects funct ions simulations compare to the results obtained by assuming that effe cts are proportional to time average field strength; 2) how the result s of epidemiological studies might be used to assess the relative like lihood that each of the alternative effects functions describes biolog ical reality; and 3) how the results might be used to assess possible health risks. Although the available data are sufficient to demonstrat e the general method, they are not yet sufficient to support actual di scrimination among possible alternatives. The arguments on the use of the method are for illustrative purposes only. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, In c.