Perhaps the contribution of radon to lung cancer rate is insignificant
compared to smoking at all levels of radon concentration used in Cohen's
study.
Hopefully Jeffries' hypothesis will help you all stop going around and
around and around in circles trying to resolve the unresolvable.
regards
Cameron Jeffries
-----Original Message-----
From: Jerry Cohen [mailto:jjcohen@PRODIGY.NET]
Sent: Wednesday, 25 June 2003 10:20 AM
To: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu; epirad@mchsi.com
Subject: Re: Radon, Smoking,& LNT
<SNIP>
I would certainly agree with Puskin, Lubin & Fields that a negative
correlation between smoking and radon levels would account for Bernie
Cohen's observed negative relationship between radon levels and lung cancer.
Now, if we can just think of some plausible explanation of why such a
negative correlation would exist, the problem is solved.
Some possible explanations are:
1.- Cigarette smoke prevents radon emission into the environment.
2.- Presence of radon in the environment discourages people from smoking.
3.- In many areas, some unknown phenomenon is occurring that simultaneously
causes people to smoke and depresses environmental radon levels.
4.- Smokers preferentially seek out and reside in low radon areas.
Nah! I can't buy any of the above. Maybe someone else can help.
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