Re: Risks of low level radiation - New Scientist Article

[Tom Mohaupt <tom.mohaupt@WRIGHT.EDU>]

Hello,

Other than hormesis, Dr. Cohen's data could suggest a threshold, or that

the LNT model does not accurately describe lung cancer risks to residential

levels of radon. Most, if not all, radon case-control studies that exclude

smokers have been negative. Most radon studies that include smokers have

variations that could be observed comparing two control populations.

According to the SEER Report (National Institutes of Health, 1973-1991),

the variation in lung cancer mortality between U.S. States is 3.0. KY had

the highest lung cancer mortality with 65.5/100,000 and UT had the lowest

with 21.9/100,000.  Since these are ecology data, does that mean they are

useless? I think not.

Tom



John Williams wrote:

> Cohen goes on to say “We have…never claimed that low level exposure

> to radon

> is protective against lung cancer” (Health Physics, Volume 72(4),

> page 625,

> April 1997). If the data refute LNT then what do the data support if

> not

> hormesis (as suggested by the strong negative correlation for radon

> concentrations <150 Bqm-3)? Cohen cannot have it both ways.



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