Carcinogenic and cocarcinogenic effects of radon and radon daughters in rats

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.9410264· OSTI ID:6820321

Monchaux, G; Morlier, J P; Morin, M; Lafuma, J; Masse, R ^[1]; Chameaud, J ^[2]

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1. Laboratoire de Cancerologie Experimentale, Fontenay aux Roses (France)
2. Laboratoire de Pathologie Pulmonaire Experimentale, Razes (France)

It has been previously established that lung cancer could be induced in rats by exposure to radon and radon daughters. Although the oat-cell carcinomas that are common in humans were not found in rats, other histological types of lung carcinomas, especially squamous cell carcinomas and primitive lung adenocarcinomas, were similar to those observed in humans. A dose-effect relationship was established for cumulative doses varying from 25 to 300 working-level-months (WLM), which was similar for medium and high cumulative doses to that observed in uranium miners. This experimental protocol was also used to study the potential cocarcinogenic effects of other environmental or industrial airborne pollutants such as tobacco smoke, mineral fibers, diesel exhausts, or minerals from metallic mine ores that may act synergistically with radon exposure. In rats exposed to radon and tobacco smoke combined, the incidence of malignant thoracic tumors was observed in rats exposed to radon and fibers combined, but synergistic effects resulted in additivity. With diesel exhausts or minerals from metallic ores, a slight, nonsignificant increase in the incidence of lung carcinomas was observed compared with rats exposed to radon alone. These results demonstrated that it is possible to establish the potential cocarcinogenic action, showing either multiplicative, additive, or no effect of various environmental or industrial airborne pollutants combined with radon exposure. This radon model is valid for investigating possible interactions between two occupational exposures. 62 refs., 6 figs., 9 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6820321
• Journal Information: Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States) Vol. 102:1; ISSN EVHPAZ; ISSN 0091-6765
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550900 -- Pathology
560160* -- Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AEROSOLS
ANIMALS
BODY
CARCINOGENESIS
CARCINOMAS
COLLOIDS
DAUGHTER PRODUCTS
DISEASES
DISPERSIONS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
ISOTOPES
LUNGS
MAMMALS
MINES
NEOPLASMS
NONMETALS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANS
PATHOGENESIS
RADON
RARE GASES
RATS
RESIDUES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
RODENTS
SMOKES
SOLS
TOBACCO SMOKES
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
URANIUM MINES
VERTEBRATES