Radon and lung cancer
Radon, an inert gas released during the decay of uranium-238, is ubiquitous in indoor and outdoor air and contaminates many underground mines. Extensive epidemiologic evidence from studies of underground miners and complementary animal data have documented that radon causes lung cancer in smokers and nonsmokers. Radon must also be considered a potentially important cause of lung cancer for the general population, which is exposed through contamination of indoor air by radon from soil, water, and building materials. This review describes radon's sources, levels in U.S. homes, dosimetry, the epidemiologic evidence from studies of miners and the general population, and the principal, recent risk assessments.91 references.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5814493
- Journal Information:
- JNCI, J. Natl. Cancer Inst.; (United States), Journal Name: JNCI, J. Natl. Cancer Inst.; (United States) Vol. 81:10; ISSN JJIND
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
ANIMALS
BODY
DISEASES
DOCUMENT TYPES
DOSIMETRY
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
EPIDEMIOLOGY
FLUIDS
GASES
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
LUNGS
MAMMALS
MAN
MINERS
NEOPLASMS
NONMETALS
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
ORGANS
PERSONNEL
POLLUTION
POLLUTION SOURCES
PRIMATES
RADIOINDUCTION
RADON
RARE GASES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
REVIEWS
RISK ASSESSMENT
VERTEBRATES