Extensions to multivariate normal models for pedigree analysis: II. Modeling the effect of shared environment in the analysis of variation in blood lead levels

Abstract

Hopper, J. L., and J. D. Mathews (U. of Melbourne, Dept. of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, 3050, Australia). Extensions to multivariate normal models for pedigree analysis. II. Modeling the effect of shared environment in the analysis of variation in blood lead levels. Am J Epidemiol 1983; 117: 344-55.A multivariate normal model for pedigree analysis is applied to blood lead measurements from 617 individuals in 80 families in Melbourne, Australia, studied in 1977-1978. A new method is introduced for estimating time dependence of the family covariance matrix for blood lead levels; this time dependence can be interpreted as arising from the effects of common family environment o..