Many environmental exposures originate from point sources such as industrial plants or dump areas. Because the point sources are often easy to recognize, they can be associated with strong negative attitudes and even fears. Only the suspicion of increased risk in a region can cause remarkable psychological and economical consequences. Therefore, rapid initial answers providing methods are needed.
The Unit of Environmental Epidemiology holds small area system called SMASH. SMASH can be used in initial assessment of possibly increased risk of cancer in a freely selected areas in Finland. In different projects the statistical and epidemiological methods for the assessment of health risks around point sources are further improved.