Increased risk for small cell lung cancer following residential exposure to low-dose radon: A pilot study

Journal Article · · Archives of Environmental Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1993.9940361· OSTI ID:5694109

Biberman, R; Lusky, A ^[1]; Schlesinger, T; Margaloit, M ^[2]; Neeman, E ^[3]; Modan, B ^[4]

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1. Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer (Israel)
2. National Nuclear Research Center, Nahal Soreq (Israel)
3. Tel Aviv Univ. (Israel)
4. Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer (Israel) Tel Aviv Univ. (Israel)

Alpha track radon detectors were placed in the homes of 35 lung cancer patients and 35 matched controls for a period of 8 to 10 mo. Twenty lung cancer patients had small cell lung carcinoma; 11 had adenocarcinoma, 2 had squamous cell carcinoma, and 2 had unclassified carcinoma among 15 nonsmokers. Mean overall living on ground level was significantly higher in the group with small cell lung carcinoma (50 y [+-] 15) than among controls (33 y [+-] 19); the adjusted odds ratio for lung cancer was 5.2 (90% confidence interval [90% CI] = 1.1--24.9) per decade of living on the ground floor for the group with small cell lung carcinoma. Radon exposure of more than 1.0 pci/l in the group with small cell lung carcinoma was associated with increased risk of lung cancer, although it did not reach statistical significance [odds ratio = 1.5 (90% CI = 0.4--5.4)], adjusting for differences in smoking habits. The study supports the presence of a differentially increased risk for small cell lung carcinoma following long-term radon exposure. 12 refs., 2 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 5694109
• Journal Information: Archives of Environmental Health; (United States), Journal Name: Archives of Environmental Health; (United States) Vol. 48:4; ISSN 0003-9896; ISSN AEHLAU
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550900 -- Pathology
560151* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
BUILDINGS
DISEASE INCIDENCE
DISEASES
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
GROUND LEVEL
HOUSES
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
LEVELS
LUNGS
NEOPLASMS
NONMETALS
ORGANS
POLLUTION
RADON
RARE GASES
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RISK ASSESSMENT
TIME DEPENDENCE