Richard R. Monson

Biography

Research

I am a general epidemiologist who has focused on the evaluation of occupational exposures. Also, I am involved in cancer, radiation, reproductive, and psychiatric epidemiologic studies. During the 1970s, much of my research was conducted on the relation between employment in the rubber industry and the occurrence of ill health, especially cancer. While in general there was no overall increase in mortality from cancer or other causes, some specific groups of rubber workers had some excesses that likely were work-related. A general reduction in workplace exposures to chemicals was recommended.

During the 1980s until the present, I and my colleagues have conducted a number of studies of employees of General Motors Corporation who were exposed to machining fluids (cutting oils). The concern is that these ubiquitous exposures may be related to the development of respiratory disease or cancer. We have found that while the mists of these fluids appear to be respiratory irritants, there is minimal evidence for any long-term relationship with pulmonary function. However, there is some suggestion that some types of machining fluids may be relatively weak causes of larynx and possibly certain digestive cancers.

Another focus of research that has continued until the present is the evaluation of the risk of exposure to ionizing radiation. I and my colleagues have evaluated children exposed to prenatal x-ray, tuberculosis patients exposed to multiple fluoroscopic examinations, women treated with radiation for benign gynecologic conditions, persons with thyroid conditions who were treated with radioactive iodine, patients for whom Thorotrast was used for neurological examination, and patients who received radiation therapy for an enlarged thymus. These cohorts remain part of long-term follow-up studies being conducted at the National Cancer Institute. From 1999-2005 I chaired the National Research Council Committee on Health Risks from Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR VII, Phase 2).

Education and Training

• M.D.,
  Harvard Medical School
• S.D.,
  Harvard School of Public Health

Publications

• IARC monographs: 40 years of evaluating carcinogenic hazards to humans.

  Pearce N, Blair A, Vineis P, Ahrens W, Andersen A, Anto JM, Armstrong BK, Baccarelli AA, Beland FA, Berrington A, Bertazzi PA, Birnbaum LS, Brownson RC, Bucher JR, Cantor KP, Cardis E, Cherrie JW, Christiani DC, Cocco P, Coggon D, Comba P, Demers PA, Dement JM, Douwes J, Eisen EA, Engel LS, Fenske RA, Fleming LE, Fletcher T, Fontham E, Forastiere F, Frentzel-Beyme R, Fritschi L, Gerin M, Goldberg M, Grandjean P, Grimsrud TK, Gustavsson P, Haines A, Hartge P, Hansen J, Hauptmann M, Heederik D, Hemminki K, Hemon D, Hertz-Picciotto I, Hoppin JA, Huff J, Jarvholm B, Kang D, Karagas MR, Kjaerheim K, Kjuus H, Kogevinas M, Kriebel D, Kristensen P, Kromhout H, Laden F, Lebailly P, LeMasters G, Lubin JH, Lynch CF, Lynge E, 't Mannetje A, McMichael AJ, McLaughlin JR, Marrett L, Martuzzi M, Merchant JA, Merler E, Merletti F, Miller A, Mirer FE, Monson R, Nordby KC, Olshan AF, Parent ME, Perera FP, Perry MJ, Pesatori AC, Pirastu R, Porta M, Pukkala E, Rice C, Richardson DB, Ritter L, Ritz B, Ronckers CM, Rushton L, Rusiecki JA, Rusyn I, Samet JM, Sandler DP, de Sanjose S, Schernhammer E, Costantini AS, Seixas N, Shy C, Siemiatycki J, Silverman DT, Simonato L, Smith AH, Smith MT, Spinelli JJ, Spitz MR, Stallones L, Stayner LT, Steenland K, Stenzel M, Stewart BW, Stewart PA, Symanski E, Terracini B, Tolbert PE, Vainio H, Vena J, Vermeulen R, Victora CG, Ward EM, Weinberg CR, Weisenburger D, Wesseling C, Weiderpass E, Zahm SH. Environ Health Perspect 2015

• Obesity and weight gain in relation to depression: findings from the Stirling County Study.

  Murphy JM, Horton NJ, Burke JD, Monson RR, Laird NM, Lesage A, Sobol AM. Int J Obes (Lond) 2009

• Brian MacMahon (1923-2007): founder of modern epidemiology.

  Trichopoulos D, Cole P, Cook EF, Feinleib M, Hoover R, Hsieh CC, Hunter D, Monson R, Mueller N, Rahu M, Rimm E, Rothman K, Stampfer M, Weiss N, Willett W, Adami HO. Cancer Causes Control 2008

• Mortality associated with depression: a forty-year perspective from the Stirling County Study.

  Murphy JM, Burke JD, Monson RR, Horton NJ, Laird NM, Lesage A, Sobol AM, Leighton AH. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2008

• Re: "Meta-analysis of mortality and cancer incidence among workers in the synthetic rubber-producing industry".

  Monson R. Am J Epidemiol 2007 Jul 15