Input | RAa | PAFb | Variable across the population? | Uncertain? |
---|---|---|---|---|
Potency values (OSF and IUR) | √ | Potency may vary across the population, but there was no information to characterize it for this analysis. | Yes, different agencies may set different potency values; this is captured in this analysis (see Table 1). However, potency values are themselves uncertain and that was not captured in this analysis. | |
Exposure factors (e.g., ingestion rate, bodyweight) | √ | Yes, exposure factors vary within and across age bins. This is captured in this analysis (see Additional file 3). | Yes, but there was no information to characterize it in this analysis. | |
Population | √ | No, one point estimate for the province (from 2011 Census). | Yes, but uncharacterized. Expect the Census number to be robust. | |
Concentration | √ | √ | Yes, the exposure concentration varies across the population and this is captured in this analysis. However, there may be additional variability that is not captured by the input data sources. | Yes, but there was no information to characterize it for this analysis.c |
Relative risk | √ | Yes, the RR could differ by sub-populations (e.g., by sex or age group). This captured in the analysis whenever possible for UV and SHS. | Yes, the analysis captured the statistical uncertainty in the RRs (e.g., 95% confidence intervals) whenever possible. However, there is additional uncertainty associated with the RRs and that was not captured in this analysis for UV, SHS, DPM, and PM2.5. | |
Population attributable fraction | √ | The PAF varies across the population, and this is captured for radon. | Yes, though we were unable to characterize it outside of the statistical uncertainty associated with radon and bounding the PAF obtained by different approaches in the UV analysis. | |
Cancer Incidence | √ | No, one estimate for the province (from 2011 Ontario Cancer Registry). | Yes, but uncharacterized. Expect the Ontario Cancer Registry estimate to be robust. |