[ RadSafe ] N. American Residential Lung Cancer Study

[Tom Mohaupt]

Bill,
What is meant in the recent summary paper by "monitored over 10 years"?
Can you direct me to your analysis of the effect of active and past 
smoking on the retrospective radon detectors? Considering that cigarette 
smoke has Pb-210 / Po-210, the same constituents that the retrospective 
detector is monitoring for, I see this as an important issue. The only 
evaluation I've read used an oily substrate as a surrogate for tobacco 
residue, which I think was inadequate.
Also, how widely can radon concentrations vary across a room? I've seen 
some data where the distribution was significant. The concentrations 
seemed to be higher along the walls, which is where many retrospective 
detectors are placed, but don't necessarily represent where homeowner's 
exposure.
Tom


niton at mchsi.com wrote:

>Dr. Seiler,
>
>The information you requested is in Table 5.  It clearly shows a statistically 
>sigificant excess odds ratio at 100 Bq/m3 for homes monitored over 10 years.  
>As pointed out in the paper, "Field et al. have recently demonstrated that 
>empiric models with improved retrospective radon exposure estimates were more 
>likely to detect an association between prolonged residential radon
>exposure and lung cancer."   
>
>http://www.aarst.org/news_pdf/2002_IowaU_Follow-up_Study.pdf
>
>
>Further, "Odds ratios exhibit no apparent evidence of nonlinearity
>throughout the range of radon concentrations observed
>in these studies."
>
>If you or Dr. ALvarez have any concerns about the analysis or its 
>inperpretation, we would welcome a letter-to-the-editor regarding your 
>concerns.  
>
>Regards, Bill
>
>R. William Field, M.S, Ph.D.
>Associate Professor
>College of Public Health
>Department of Occupational and Environmental Health
>University of Iowa
>Iowa City, IA 52242
>
>319-335-4413
>bill-field at uiowa.edu
>
>
>  
>
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-- 
Thomas Mohaupt, M.S., CHP
Radiation Safety Officer
Wright State University
937-775-2169
tom.mohaupt at wright.edu