Relationship of radioactive radon daughters and cigarette smoking in the genesis of lung cancer in uranium miners

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Cancer (Philadelphia); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-0142(19881001)62:7<1402::AID-CNCR2820620727>3.0.CO;2-K· OSTI ID:7091192

Saccomanno, G; Huth, G C; Auerbach, O; Kuschner, M

This article documents the study of 383 cases of lung cancer in uranium miners and presents for the first time the relationship of radioactive radon gas and cigarette smoking. There is evidence that alpha radiation from radon gas at exposure levels above 465 working level months (WLM) is a strong contributor to the development of lung cancer. Cigarette smoking plays the most significant role in causing lung tumor; this is also noticed in nonminers who smoke cigarettes. A synergistic or additive effect of these two carcinogens is strongly suggested. The data indicate that small cell tumors develop in younger nonsmoking miners exposed to radon levels above 465 WLM. Lung cancers develop in smoking miners at lower levels of radon exposure than in nonsmoking miners. Based on an average mining experience of 15 years, there is substantial evidence that the present maximum allowable limit of 0.3 working levels (WL), or 4 working level months (WLM) per year, is safe, representing a margin of safety of approximately 10:1. Furthermore, a comparison of these data with the radon levels in some homes, averaging in the neighborhood of 0.025 WL, would indicate that health risks at these levels are negligible. It is suggested that 20 picocuries/liter, which equals 0.10 WL, be the maximum allowable level in homes.

• Research Organization: St. Mary's Hospital and Medical Center, Grand Junction, CO (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7091192
• Journal Information: Cancer (Philadelphia); (United States), Vol. 62:7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
LUNGS
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
NEOPLASMS
RADIOINDUCTION
RADON
CARCINOGENESIS
TOBACCO SMOKES
ALPHA PARTICLES
DAUGHTER PRODUCTS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
SYNERGISM
AEROSOLS
BODY
CHARGED PARTICLES
COLLOIDS
DISEASES
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
ISOTOPES
MATHEMATICS
NONMETALS
ORGANS
PATHOGENESIS
RARE GASES
RESIDUES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SAFETY STANDARDS
SMOKES
SOLS
STANDARDS
STATISTICS
560161* - Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
&amp; Toxicology- Man