Mortality and cancer incidence in a small cohort of miners exposed to low levels of alpha radiation.
Due to the continuing controversy over the effects on humans of low-level ionizing radiation, overall mortality and cancer incidence among miners from a magnetite mine was investigated. The study comprises 332 underground miners. The average concentration of Rn progeny is presently 0.10-0.15 working levels (WL). Included in the study were those employed for more than 36 months in the period 1940-1960, who were still alive in 1953. The follow-up period covers 1953-1980. Mortality was equal to estimated values based on age-specific national figures. The observed/expected ratio for lung cancer incidence was 1.1. Comparison was also made to 190 miners from a mine with negligible radiation (less than 0.02 WL). The same mortality was observed, but this mine showed a ratio for lung cancer incidence of 2.2. The study population is too small to repudiate the hypothesis of increased health risk after exposure to low levels of alpha radiation.
D000512:Alpha Particles; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D008906:Mining; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D009664:Norway; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors