It has been suggested that occupational exposure to benzene in the petroleum industry increases the risk of developing leukemia. The levels of benzene to which workers in this industry have been exposed were high from 1940 to 1970, but since 1970 have been significantly reduced.
What kind of study design, using petroleum workers, would provide the most useful information on whether benzene affects incidence rates of leukemia in this industry? (You may assume that records of individual worker assignments to jobs involving benzene exposure have been maintained by the industry.)
A) Experimental
B) Retrospective cohort
C) Prospective cohort
D) Case-control
E) Cross-sectional

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A retrospective cohort study would be most useful as it can utilize existing records to assess past benzene exposure and subsequent leukemia incidence among workers.

It Has Been Suggested That Occupational Exposure to Benzene in the Petroleum