Re: Lung cancer mortality from radon versus mortality from other<plus>Radon Health Risks

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

Don,

There are negative studies of "never" smokers. Perhaps it's difficult to

find studies of this group because lung cancer in it is relatively low.

Most studies that are called "never smokers" actually comprise never and

former smokers. Most suggest that chemical carcinogens and ETS exceed radon

in causing lung cancer. Here are brief synopses of the MO, German, and

Swedish studies. 



The first MO study of nonsmoking women was negative. The second study added

smokers.

Alavanja, M. et al., Residential Radon Exposure and Lung Cancer Among

Nonsmoking Women, J Nat Cancer Inst (86)24, 1994, 1829-1837



The German study was interesting. The study was negative for West Germany,

but postive for the Eastern counterpart.  Only five cases and 42 controls

in the highest group (>140 Bq/m^3). All five cases were from East Germany.

A strong association between chemical carcinogens and moderate associations

for secondhand smoke and tuberculosis were evident. Eighty-six percent of

the cases had radon levels less than 140 Bq/m^3.

Kreuzer, M. et al., Lung Cancer in Lifetime nonsmoking men- Results of a

Case-Control Study in Germany, Br J Cancer (2001) 84(1) 134-140



The Swedish study was positive. They defined a never smoker as "a subject

who had not smoked daily for 1 year or longer". 

RR for 101-200 Bq/m^3: 1.094 (compared to <25 Bq/m^3)

       201-400 Bq/m^3: 1.086

       >400: 1.13

Of interest, the RR (>140 Bq/m^3) excluding secondhand smoke was 1.13.

Including secondhand smoke the RR was 2.1. This is consistent with an

earlier Swedish study that showed a RR of 3.3 for secondhand smoke.

Lagarde, F. et al., Residual Radon and Lung Cancer among Never-Smokers in

Sweden, Epidemiology, (12)4, 2001







Rad health wrote:

> 

> MICHAEL,

> 

>

> 

> I noticed you didn't cite any of the

> >studies that found negative associations

> 

> Michael, Which case controls were negative?  The only one I know about is

> the China cave study that had a lot of problems with indoor cooking and

> failure to account for gamma radiation in their eperms.

> 

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-- 

Thomas Mohaupt, M.S., CHP

University Radiation Safety Officer



104 Health Sciences Bldg

Wright State University

Dayton, Ohio 45435

tom.mohaupt@wright.edu

(937) 775-2169

(937) 775-3761 (fax)



"An investment in knowledge gains the best interest." Ben Franklin

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