Estimating population health risk from low-level environmental radon

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5194211

Fisher, D. R.

Although incidence of respiratory cancer is directly related to inhalation of radon and radon daughters, the magnitude of the actual risk is uncertain for members of the general population exposed for long periods to low-level concentrations. Currently, any such estimate of the risk must rely on data obtained through previous studies of underground-miner populations. Several methods of risk analysis have resulted from these studies. Since the breathing atmospheres, smoking patterns, and physiology are different between miners and the general public, overestimates of lung cancer risk to the latter may have resulted. Strong evidence exists to support the theory of synergistic action between alpha radiation and other agents, and therefore a modified relative risk model was developed to predict lung cancer risks to the general public. The model considers latent period, observation period, age dependency, and inherent risks from smoking or geographical location. A test of the model showed excellent agreement with results of the study of Czechoslovakian uranium miners, for which the necessary time factors were available. The risk model was also used to predict lung cancer incidence among residents of homes on reclaimed Florida phosphate lands, and results of this analysis indicate that over the space of many years, the increased incidence of lung cancer due to elevated radon levels may be indisgtinguishable from those due to other causes.

• Research Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5194211
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA-8291; CONF-800398-1; TRN: 80-015575
• Resource Relation: Conference: Specialist meeting on assessment of radon and daughter exposure and related biological effects, Rome, Italy, 3 Mar 1980
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
RADON
INHALATION
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
RISK ASSESSMENT
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
HUMAN POPULATIONS
LOW DOSE IRRADIATION
LUNGS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NEOPLASMS
RADIATION HAZARDS
BODY
DISEASES
ELEMENTS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INTAKE
IRRADIATION
NONMETALS
ORGANS
POPULATIONS
RARE GASES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
560161* - Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology- Man