[ RadSafe ] Radon - Smoking

[Bernard Cohen]

This negative correlation between radon levels and smoking prevalence 
was recognized and fully taken into account in all of my papers. In fact 
these papers investigated the possibility that this correlation was much 
stronger, and even perfect -- these possibilities did not substantially 
change the conclusions of my studies, that LNT fails in drastically 
over-estimating the cancer risk from low level radiation.

niton at mchsi.com wrote:

>>From the 2002 archieves - 
>
>We previously showed (Smith et al. 1998 and elsewhere:
>that when Cohen's adjusted smoking percentages for males and females were 
>regressed on radon levels, significant (p < 0.00001) negative associations 
>between smoking and radon were noted for both males and females.
>-------------------------
>NCRP also noted the inverse association between averaged county radon 
>concentrations (based on a few short term measurements per county) and averaged 
>county smoking rates (estimated from proxy sources).
>
>
>  
>
>>    First, please allow me to apologize for my feeble attempt at humor. It
>>did not occur to me that it might be taken seriously.
>>Actually, I find the idea of a negative relationship, or any correlation
>>between radon levels and smoking  to be complete nonsense. This idea stemmed
>>from previous discussions on radsafe to the effect that: [1] there is a
>>negative correlation between radon levels and lung cancer incidence (as per
>>Bernie Cohen), and [2] cigarette smoking is a far more dominant cause of
>>lung cancer than is radon exposure---- so, to some people, it was apparent
>>that there must be a negative correlation between smoking  and radon
>>exposure levels.
>>    I much prefer another hypothesis. How about: radon exposure somehow
>>stimulates the immune system thereby increasing resistance to lung cancer.
>>This hypothesis would certainly account for the observed decrease in lung
>>cancer incidence with increased radon levels. Maybe, just maybe, the people
>>who frequent the Radon Spas in Europe, or mines in Montana are not so crazy
>>after all. It might even be conceivable that hormesis is a valid concept.
>>Jerry Cohen
>>
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: Kai Kaletsch <eic at shaw.ca>
>>To: jjcohen <jjcohen at prodigy.net>; radsafe <radsafe at radlab.nl>
>>Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2005 7:59 AM
>>Subject: [ RadSafe ] Re: Selective ventilation
>>
>>
>>    
>>
>>>Jerry asked: "Given an indoor atmosphere containing both radon and smoke,
>>>how would opening windows, or any other form of ventilation  mitigate one
>>>but not the other?"
>>>
>>>It doesn't. Smokers would open a window to let smoke out and radon escapes
>>>with it. Non-smokers have no reason to open windows and therefore have
>>>higher radon levels.
>>>
>>>Kai
>>>
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "jjcohen" <jjcohen at prodigy.net>
>>>To: "Kai Kaletsch" <eic at shaw.ca>; "radsafe" <radsafe at radlab.nl>
>>>Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 9:03 AM
>>>Subject: Re: Selective ventilation
>>>
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>>>Given an indoor atmosphere containing both radon and smoke, how would
>>>>opening windows, or any other form of ventilation  mitigate one but not
>>>>the
>>>>other?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>>From: Kai Kaletsch <eic at shaw.ca>
>>>>To: jjcohen <jjcohen at prodigy.net>; radsafe <radsafe at radlab.nl>
>>>>Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 5:52 AM
>>>>Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Residential radon risk
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>>>Jerry asked: "Given the apparent negative correlation between smoking
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>and
>>    
>>
>>>>>radon levels, I wonder
>>>>>whether it is low radon levels that cause people to smoke, or does
>>>>>smoking
>>>>>somehow
>>>>>cause lower radon levels? "
>>>>>
>>>>>I think it is likely that smoking causes lower radon levels, because
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>>>smokers
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>>>would open a window to let some fresh air in.
>>>>>
>>>>>We have to remember that residential radon levels are, in part,
>>>>>determined
>>>>>by the residents' lifestyle. So, one could also expect that being sick
>>>>>increases radon levels. (Sick people might not lead as active lives and
>>>>>doors will stay closed.)
>>>>>
>>>>>Since residential radon levels are related to ventilation, one would
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>also
>>    
>>
>>>>>expect that they correlate positively with mould and other indoor
>>>>>pollutants.
>>>>>
>>>>>In the ecological studies, these factors probably largely cancel out
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>and
>>    
>>
>>>>the
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>>>average county radon levels are more related to the radon source term.
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>>>Case
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>>>control studies would be very susceptible to the influence of these
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>other
>>    
>>
>>>>>factors, unless these are specifically controlled.
>>>>>
>>>>>Kai
>>>>>          
>>>>>
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>>
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