RE: Iowa Radon Lung Cancer Study

["Eric Cowdrey" <ericc@cancercare.mb.ca>]

I am particularly pleased to hear Dr. Weiner's mention of ultraviolet
radiation (UVR). In 1998, the Canadian Radiation Protection Association,
under the leadership of then President Dr. Gary Kramer, undertook a campaign
to inform Canadian provincial government officials of the hazard to human
health associated with UVR exposure. I believe that this important
initiative should be continued, not only in Canada but around the world.

The role of UVA radiation in the induction of malignant melanoma should be
clarified. To my knowledge, no dose/response mechanism for this outcome has
yet been postulated and verified. This would also have a bearing on the use
of UVA artificial tanning beds, which continue in widespread use by the
general public.

Another very intriguing item entitled "Second Cancers" appeared in the UK
National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) Radiological Protection
Bulletin, No: 207, November 1998, p. 21. I quote:

"In 1,100,000 volunteers followed for 12 years, men and women with
non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) had an increased cancer mortality risk of
around 27%. Mortality was increased for melanoma, pharyngeal cancer, lung
cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in men and women. In men, mortality was
increased for cancers of the salivary glands, prostate, testis, urinary
bladder and leukaemia. Women had excess breast-cancer mortality. Possible
biological mechanisms include immunosuppression or somatic mutations caused
by the exposure to ultraviolet radiation that had caused NMSC (Journal of
the American Medical Association, 280, 910-12, 1998)."

The increased risk of lung cancer in this study is particularly interesting.
I wonder if another variable could be considered in radon epidemiological
studies - i.e., the presence of skin cancer or, alternatively, some measure
of lifetime UVR exposure?

**************************************************************

Eric Cowdrey, M.Sc. (Physics)
Radiation Protection Officer
Department of Medical Physics
CancerCare Manitoba
100 Olivia Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba    R3E 0V9
CANADA

Tel (204) 787-2166
Fax (204) 775-1684
e-mail ericc@cancercare.mb.ca

Industrial hygiene in Manitoba: http://aiha.cancercare.mb.ca


-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
[mailto:radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu]On Behalf Of ruth_weiner
Sent: Saturday, June 24, 2000 8:31 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Re: Iowa Radon Lung Cancer Study


This is a real question, and not an attempt to bait anyone:  how does the
risk of cancer from radon exposure, as elucidated by the Iowa study, compare
with the risk of cancer from two other ubiquitous sources:(1) UV exposure
from sunlight and (2) cosmic ray exposure from commercial air travel?

I would also propose the UV exposure as a candidate for the hormesis
argument: people need a little bit of UV exposure to prevent vitamin D
deficiency, but an excessive amount is very thoroughly associated with basal
cell and squamous cell skin cancers.

Ruth Weiner
ruth_weiner@msn.com
-----Original Message-----
From: EPIRAD@aol.com <EPIRAD@aol.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
Date: Friday, June 23, 2000 10:20 PM
Subject: Iowa Radon Lung Cancer Study


(snip)



************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html