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Title: Radon exposure and cancers other than lung cancer in Swedish iron miners

Journal Article · · Environmental Health Perspectives

Data are presented on the risks of cancers other than lung cancer in a cohort of iron miners from northern Sweden occupationally exposed to elevated levels of the radioactive gas radon. Compared with rates for the four northernmost counties of Sweden, mortality was increased for all cancers other than lung cancer (ratio of observed to expected deaths 1.21, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.41), stomach cancer (ratio of observed to expect- ed deaths 1.45, 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.98), and rectal cancer (ratio of observed to expected deaths 1.94, 95% confidence interval 1.03-3.31). Despite these overall increases, mortality was not significantly associated with cumulative exposure to radon, either for all cancers other than lung cancer or for any site of cancer other than lung cancer individually. However, the data from this cohort on its own have limited power; and for several sites of cancer the data in this study would be consistent with a radon-related increase. Further study of cancers other than lung cancer in populations exposed to radon is required. 8 refs., 2 tabs.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
482233
Report Number(s):
CONF-9308287-; ISSN 0091-6765; TRN: 97:002104-0006
Journal Information:
Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 103, Issue Suppl.2; Conference: 5. international conference of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology, Stockholm (Sweden), 15-18 Aug 1993; Other Information: PBD: Mar 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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