[Indoor radon exposure and lung cancer risk. Results of an epidemiological study carried out in France].
BACKGROUND
Several epidemiological studies have indicated an increased risk of lung cancer associated with indoor radon exposure. As part of a large European project, a hospital based case-control study was carried out in four regions of France: Auvergne, Brittany, Languedoc-Roussillon and Limousin.


METHODS
Individual data on demographic characteristics, residential history, smoking and occupational exposures were collected during face-to-face interviews. Radon concentrations were measured in each dwelling occupied by the subject during the 30-year period prior to the interview.


RESULTS
486 cases and 984 controls were included in the study. After adjustment for age, sex, region, smoking history and occupational exposure, the risk of lung cancer increased by 4% per 100 Bq/m(3), when considering cumulative exposure in the 30 years prior to diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The study indicates a positive association between lung cancer risk and indoor radon exposure. The risk estimate per unit of exposure is in agreement with other recently published indoor case-control studies.
Baysson
H
H
Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Laboratoire d'Epidémiologie, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
Tirmarche
M
M
Tymen
G
G
Gouva
S
S
Caillaud
D
D
Artus
J C
JC
Vergnenegre
A
A
Ducloy
F
F
Laurier
D
D
D000368:Aged; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011886:Radon / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D011886:Radon