Increased risk for small cell lung cancer following residential exposure to low-dose radon: a pilot study.
Alpha track radon detectors were placed in the homes of 35 lung cancer patients and 35 matched controls for a period of 8 to 10 mo. Twenty lung cancer patients had small cell lung carcinoma; 11 had adenocarcinoma, 2 had squamous cell carcinoma, and 2 had unclassified carcinoma among 15 nonsmokers. Mean overall living on ground level was significantly higher in the group with small cell lung carcinoma (50 y +/- 15) than among controls (33 y +/- 19); the adjusted odds ratio for lung cancer was 5.2 (90% confidence interval [90% CI] = 1.1-24.9) per decade of living on the ground floor for the group with small cell lung carcinoma. Radon exposure of more than 1.0 pci/l in the group with small cell lung carcinoma was associated with increased risk of lung cancer, although it did not reach statistical significance [odds ratio = 1.5 (90% CI = 0.4-5.4)], adjusting for differences in smoking habits. Our study supports the presence of a differentially increased risk for small cell lung carcinoma following long-term radon exposure.
Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
R
R
Biberman
A
A
Lusky
T
T
Schlesinger
M
M
Margaloit
E
E
Neeman
B
B
Modan
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D011886:Radon / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D011886:Radon