Comparison of Statistical Methods for Assessing Threshold Limiting Values in Occupational Epidemiology

In this paper different statistical methods are presented for determining a threshold limiting value (TLV). Their statistical properties are summarized. In addition, they are briefly compared from a theoretical point of view and in more detail with respect to their behaviour in a concrete data analysis. The techniques are applied to a study concerning the relationship between dust concentration at the working place and chronic bronchitis (CBR). Here, it was of special interest to determine a TLV for the total inhalable dust with respect to developing chronic bronchitis