[ RadSafe ] Radon hormesis suggested by a careful case-control study

[Otto G. Raabe]

February 22, 2008

A new case control study of radon in homes shows that lung cancer 
adjusted odds ratio (relative risk) goes DOWN markedly as radon 
concentration goes UP from 25 Bq/m3 to 250 Bq/m3. Only for radon 
concentrations well above 250 Bq/m3 does the risk begin to rise (R.E. 
Thompson, D.F. Nelson, J.H. Popkin, Z. Popkin, "Case-Control Study of 
Lung Cancer Risk from Residential Radon Exposure in Worcester County, 
Massachusetts, Health Physics 94: 228-241, March 2008).

In addition, the downward slope in risk that was observed in this new 
study seems to overlay almost perfectly the lung cancer mortality 
reduction slope shown by Bernard Cohen in his 1995 Health Physics 
paper (B.L. Cohen, "Test of the Linear-No Threshold Theory of 
Radation Carcinogensis for Inhaled Radon Decay Products". Health 
Physics 68. 157-174, 1995).

The authors of this new paper explain quite well the reasons that 
caused previous case-control studies to obscure this phenomena.

Dr. Cohen, a letter to the editor of Health Physics quantitatively 
contrasting your previous results with those in this new study would 
probably be well received.

Otto

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Prof. Otto G. Raabe, Ph.D., CHP
Center for Health & the Environment
University of California
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616
E-Mail: ograabe at ucdavis.edu
Phone: (530) 752-7754   FAX: (530) 758-6140
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