OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk of lung cancer associated with exposure at home to the radioactive disintegration products of naturally occurring radon gas. DESIGN: Collaborative analysis of individual data from 13 case-control studies of residential radon and lung cancer. SETTING: Nine European countries. SUBJECTS: 7148 cases of lung cancer and 14,208 controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Relative risks of lung cancer and radon gas concentrations in homes inhabited during the previous 5-34 years measured in becquerels (radon disintegrations per second) per cubic metre (Bq/m3) of household air. RESULTS: The mean measured radon concentration in homes of people in the control group was 97 Bq/m3, with 11% measuring > 200 and 4% measuring > 400 Bq/m3. For cases of lung cancer the mean concentration was 104 Bq/m3. The risk of lung cancer increased by 8.4% (95% confidence interval 3.0% to 15.8%) per 100 Bq/m3 increase in measured radon (P = 0.0007). This corresponds to an increase of 16% (5% to 31%) per 100 Bq/m3 increase in usual radon--that is, after correction for the dilution caused by random uncertainties in measuring radon concentrations. The dose-response relation seemed to be linear with no threshold and remained significant (P = 0.04) in analyses limited to individuals from homes with measured radon < 200 Bq/m3. The proportionate excess risk did not differ significantly with study, age, sex, or smoking. In the absence of other causes of death, the absolute risks of lung cancer by age 75 years at usual radon concentrations of 0, 100, and 400 Bq/m3 would be about 0.4%, 0.5%, and 0.7%, respectively, for lifelong non-smokers, and about 25 times greater (10%, 12%, and 16%) for cigarette smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, though not separately, these studies show appreciable hazards from residential radon, particularly for smokers and recent ex-smokers, and indicate that it is responsible for about 2% of all deaths from cancer in Europe.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk of lung cancer associated with exposure at home to the radioactive disintegration products of naturally occurring radon gas. DESIGN: Collaborative analysis of individual data from 13 case-control studies of residential radon and lung cancer. SETTING: Nine European countries. SUBJECTS: 7148 cases of lung cancer and 14,208 controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Relative risks of lung cancer and radon gas concentrations in homes inhabited during the previous 5-34 years measured in becquerels (radon disintegrations per second) per cubic metre (Bq/m3) of household air. RESULTS: The mean measured radon concentration in homes of people in the control group was 97 Bq/m3, with 11% measuring > 200 and 4% measuring > 400 Bq/m3. For cases of lung cancer the mean concentration was 104 Bq/m3. The risk of lung cancer increased by 8.4% (95% confidence interval 3.0% to 15.8%) per 100 Bq/m3 increase in measured radon (P = 0.0007). This corresponds to an increase of 16% (5% to 31%) per 100 Bq/m3 increase in usual radon--that is, after correction for the dilution caused by random uncertainties in measuring radon concentrations. The dose-response relation seemed to be linear with no threshold and remained significant (P = 0.04) in analyses limited to individuals from homes with measured radon < 200 Bq/m3. The proportionate excess risk did not differ significantly with study, age, sex, or smoking. In the absence of other causes of death, the absolute risks of lung cancer by age 75 years at usual radon concentrations of 0, 100, and 400 Bq/m3 would be about 0.4%, 0.5%, and 0.7%, respectively, for lifelong non-smokers, and about 25 times greater (10%, 12%, and 16%) for cigarette smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, though not separately, these studies show appreciable hazards from residential radon, particularly for smokers and recent ex-smokers, and indicate that it is responsible for about 2% of all deaths from cancer in Europe.
Authors: Juan Miguel Barros-Dios; María Amparo Barreiro; Alberto Ruano-Ravina; Adolfo Figueiras Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2002-09-15 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Jay H Lubin; Zuo Yuan Wang; John D Boice; Zhao Yi Xu; William J Blot; Long De Wang; Ruth A Kleinerman Journal: Int J Cancer Date: 2004-03 Impact factor: 7.396
Authors: G Pershagen; G Akerblom; O Axelson; B Clavensjö; L Damber; G Desai; A Enflo; F Lagarde; H Mellander; M Svartengren Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1994-01-20 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Jonathan H Seideman; Branka Stancevic; Jimmy A Rotolo; Michael R McDevitt; Roger W Howell; Richard N Kolesnick; David A Scheinberg Journal: Radiat Res Date: 2011-06-01 Impact factor: 2.841
Authors: Rodrigue S Allodji; Klervi Leuraud; Anne C M Thiébaut; Stéphane Henry; Dominique Laurier; Jacques Bénichou Journal: Radiat Environ Biophys Date: 2012-02-07 Impact factor: 1.925
Authors: M Mascalchi; L N Mazzoni; M Falchini; G Belli; G Picozzi; V Merlini; A Vella; S Diciotti; F Falaschi; A Lopes Pegna; E Paci Journal: Br J Radiol Date: 2011-10-05 Impact factor: 3.039
Authors: Sherif S Mahmoud; Eman El-Sakhawy; Eman S Abdel-Fatah; Adel M Kelany; Rizk M Rizk Journal: Radiat Environ Biophys Date: 2010-09-24 Impact factor: 1.925