Indoor residential radon exposure and risk of childhood acute myeloid leukaemia.
Exposure to radon has been identified as a risk factor for lung cancer in uranium miners, but evidence of adverse health effects due to indoor radon exposure is inconsistent. Ecological studies have suggested a correlation between indoor radon levels and leukaemia incidence. We evaluated the risk associated with indoor residential radon exposure within a larger interview-based case-control study of risk factors for childhood acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). A total of 173 cases and 254 controls met the eligibility criteria, and information was collected through telephone interviews with parents and analysis of alpha-track radon detectors placed in the home for a period of 1 year. No association was observed between radon exposure and risk of AML, with adjusted odds ratios of 1.2 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7-1.8) for 37-100 Bq m(-3) and 1.1 (95% CI 0.6-2.0) for > 100 Bq m(-3) compared with < 37 Bq m(-3). Although there was an inverse association between radon level and AML risk among children < 2 years at diagnosis, among children > or = 2 years, AML risk was increased among those with higher radon exposure. The observed association after age 2 is most likely due to chance. Overall, there was no association between residential radon and risk of childhood AML.
Steinbuch
M
M
Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA.
Weinberg
C R
CR
Buckley
J D
JD
Robison
L L
LL
Sandler
D P
DP
D000208:Acute Disease; D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000209:etiology*; D007953:Leukemia, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D011886:Radon / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors
D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D011886:Radon