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eLetters to:
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- EXPERIENCE AND REASON:
Jessica L. VanArsdale, Richard D. Leiker, Mel Kohn, T. Allen Merritt, and B. Zane Horowitz
- Lead Poisoning From a Toy Necklace
Pediatrics 2004; 114: 1096-1099
[Abstract]
[Full text]
[PDF]
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eLetters published:
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cause vs association
- josephq scheller
(14 October 2004)
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Re: cause vs association
- Jessica L. VanArsdale
(10 November 2004)
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cause vs association |
14 October 2004 |
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josephq scheller, physician children's national medical center
Send letter to journal:
Re: cause vs association
jschelle{at}cnmc.org josephq scheller
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the author in footnote 13 misquotes the study of Drs Lanphear et al
from the New England Journal. that study shows an association between lead
levels <10 and IQ loss, but does not show that lead levels in that
range causes IQ loss.
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Re: cause vs association |
10 November 2004 |
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Jessica L. VanArsdale, physician United Indian Health Services
Send letter to journal:
Re: Re: cause vs association
drjva{at}earthlink.net Jessica L. VanArsdale
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Thank you for raising this important point. Showing an association
does not
necessarily mean that the relationship is causal. There are several
criteria that
should be met in order to conclude that a causal relationship exists.
These
criteria include; finding a statistically significant association, making
sure that
the findings can’t be explained by reverse causality, bias, or
confounding,
having internal and external validity, showing a strong association, and
having biologic plausibility. The study by Lanphear et al. was well
designed
and met most of the criteria for causality. Perhaps we need more studies
looking at low level lead exposure in order to increase the external
validity
and then we can determine if there is true causality.
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