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Studies have shown that lung cancer can be linked to environmental causes - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 31 - 2022 - Paper 1
Question 31
Studies have shown that lung cancer can be linked to environmental causes. In one historical study across 29 health districts in Japan, non-smoking married women ag... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Studies have shown that lung cancer can be linked to environmental causes - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 31 - 2022 - Paper 1
Step 1
Evaluate the method used in this epidemiological study.
Answer
The study employed a robust epidemiological approach by examining large cohorts of women over a significant period, which enhances the reliability of the findings. Involving 29 health districts allows for a diverse environmental assessment and strengthens the generalizability of results.
However, there are concerns regarding confounding variables. While smoking habits of husbands are considered, other lifestyle factors and environmental influences could also affect lung cancer rates. For example, exposure to radon, occupational hazards, and genetic predispositions might skew the results.
Furthermore, the reliance on the husbands' smoking status as a proxy for exposure may not be entirely accurate since women could also be exposed to second-hand smoke in environments separate from their husbands. This potential exposure must be taken into account when analyzing the data.
Overall, while the method has strengths in cohort size and duration, the nuances of environmental and lifestyle factors could limit the conclusiveness of the findings.