In choosing the final Subgroup sample sizes the statistician involved will need prior data on measurement variability and should be encouraged to apply U.S.
Moss et al
2.

(1969).

Planning study of health effects.
| There are several difficulties,

tion,

inherent in the situa-

which this planning phase is designed to meet.

Ologic methodology

for

countries
the

(e.g.,

in England,

Japan).

location of

Epidemi-

study of chronic disease has developed

quite rapidly since 1950

in

results such as

the U.S.

and a few other

Such methods have not been pursued

interest,

however.

And

in addition,

the

specific conditions of this study are not well suited to
epidemiologic field work.
Our collaborator's

and in

"monitoring"

interest

leads,

dotal medical records well

in the

health of

unfortunately,

residents

to the sort of anec-

known to result in serious bias,

which can be dangerously misleading.

It would be my hope

that by focussing substantial energy and attention,
funds,
Gotal

on planning a modern epidemiologic survey,

these anec-

collections can be either avoided or counterbalanced.
An example

study

and some

concerns

choice of controls

for a

health

(the control group in the PROPOSAL is adequate for a

study of contamination levels)
ning phase.

Step one

is

the choice of

parable

community.

Step two is

k Moss,

W.D.

(1969).

et al.

9009u3 I

ii

which can start in the plana

"matched"

or com-

recommended to be mere

Health Physics 17,

571-8.

Select target paragraph3