Objectives There are several contributions that molecular epidemiology can make to the study of occupational disease.

Method These include 1) enhancing the ability to study dose-response relationships; 2) evaluating the biological plausibility that an exposure may be related to an adverse outcome; and 3) providing insight into the underlying biological mechanism of an established or suspected exposure-disease relationship. These goals can overlap at times.

Results There are multiple examples where molecular epidemiology studies have contributed important information about occupational exposures, including instances where such studies contributed data that played a role in determining if a given exposure was causally related to disease. Historically, these studies have complimented classic epidemiological investigations.

Conclusions There are multiple examples where molecular epidemiology studies have contributed important information about occupational exposures, including instances where such studies contributed data that played a role in determining if a given exposure was causally related to disease. Historically, these studies have complimented classic epidemiological investigations.