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Radon and Lung Cancer Gansu, China

FYI - Recent Residential Radon Study Published

American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 155, No. 6 : 554-564

Residential Radon and Lung Cancer Risk in a High-exposure Area of Gansu Province, China

Zuoyuan Wang1, Jay H. Lubin2, Longde Wang3, Shouzhi Zhang1, John D. Boice, Jr.4,5, Hongxing Cui1, Shurong Zhang1, Susan Conrath6, Ying Xia1, Bing Shang1, Alina Brenner2, Suwen Lei1, Catherine Metayer2, Jisheng Cao1, Katherine W. Chen2, Shujie Lei1 and Ruth A. Kleinerman2
1 Laboratory of Industrial Hygiene, Ministry of Public Health, Beijing, China.
2 Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD.
3 Ministry of Health, Beijing, China.
4 International Epidemiology Institute, Rockville, MD.
5 Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.
6 Indoor Environments Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC.

In the general population, evaluation of lung cancer risk from radon in houses is hampered by low levels of exposure and by dosimetric uncertainties due to residential mobility. To address these limitations, the authors conducted a case-control study in a predominantly rural area of China with low mobility and high radon levels. Included were all lung cancer cases diagnosed between January 1994 and April 1998, aged 30–75 years, and residing in two prefectures. Randomly selected, population-based controls were matched on age, sex, and prefecture. Radon detectors were placed in all houses occupied for 2 or more years during the 5–30 years prior to enrollment. Measurements covered 77% of the possible exposure time. Mean radon concentrations were 230.4 Bq/m3 for cases (n = 768) and 222.2 Bq/m3 for controls (n = 1,659). Lung cancer risk increased with increasing radon level (p < 0.001). When a linear model was used, the excess odds ratios at 100 Bq/m3 were 0.19 (95% confidence interval: 0.05, 0.47) for all subjects and 0.31 (95% confidence interval: 0.10, 0.81) for subjects for whom coverage of the exposure interval was 100%. Adjusting for exposure uncertainties increased estimates by 50%. Results support increased lung cancer risks with indoor radon exposures that may equal or exceed extrapolations based on miner data.

Bill Field

****************************************************
R. William Field, Ph.D.
College of Public Health
Department of Epidemiology
N222 Oakdale Hall
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa 52242

Phone:319-335-4413
Fax:     319-335-4748

mailto:bill-field@uiowa.edu

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