Domestic radon and childhood cancer in Denmark.
BACKGROUND
Higher incidence rates of childhood cancer and particularly leukemia have been observed in regions with higher radon levels, but case-control studies have given inconsistent results. We tested the hypothesis that domestic radon exposure increases the risk for childhood cancer.


METHODS
We identified 2400 incident cases of leukemia, central nervous system tumor, and malignant lymphoma diagnosed in children between 1968 and 1994 in the Danish Cancer Registry. Control children (n = 6697) were selected from the Danish Central Population Registry. Radon levels in residences of children and the cumulated exposure of each child were calculated as the product of exposure level and time, for each address occupied during childhood.


RESULTS
Cumulative radon exposure was associated with risk for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), with rate ratios of 1.21 (95% confidence interval = 0.98-1.49) for levels of 0.26 to 0.89 x 10(3) Bq/m3-years and 1.63 (1.05-2.53) for exposure to >0.89 x 10(3) Bq/m3-years, when compared with <0.26 x 10(3) Bq/m3-years. A linear dose-response analysis showed a 56% increase in the rate of ALL per 10(3) Bq/m3-years increase in exposure. The association with ALL persisted in sensitivity analyses and after adjustment for potential confounders. No association was found with the other types of childhood cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that domestic radon exposure increases the risk for ALL during childhood but not for other childhood cancers.
Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark. ole@cancer.dk
Ole
O
Raaschou-Nielsen
Claus E
CE
Andersen
Helle P
HP
Andersen
Peter
P
Gravesen
Morten
M
Lind
Joachim
J
Schüz
Kaare
K
Ulbak
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011886:Radon / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment
D011886:Radon