Risk of lung cancer mortality in relation to lung doses among French uranium miners: follow-up 1956-1999.
The aim of this study was to assess the risk of lung cancer death associated with cumulative lung doses from exposure to α-particle emitters, including radon gas, radon short-lived progeny, and long-lived radionuclides, and to external γ rays among French uranium miners. The French "post-55" sub-cohort included 3,377 uranium miners hired from 1956, followed up through the end of 1999, and contributing to 89,405 person-years. Lung doses were calculated with the ICRP Human Respiratory Tract Model (Publication 66) for 3,271 exposed miners. The mean "absorbed lung dose" due to α-particle radiation was 78 mGy, and that due to the contribution from other types of radiation (γ and β-particle radiation) was 56 mGy. Radon short-lived progeny accounted for 97% of the α-particle absorbed dose. Out of the 627 deaths, the cause of death was identified for 97.4%, and 66 cases were due to lung cancer. A significant excess relative risk (ERR) of lung cancer death was associated with the total absorbed lung dose (ERR/Gy = 2.94, 95% CI 0.80, 7.53) and the α-particle absorbed dose (4.48, 95% CI 1.27, 10.89). Assuming a value of 20 for the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of α particles for lung cancer induction, the ERR/Gy-Eq for the total weighted lung dose was 0.22 (95% CI: 0.06, 0.53).
Institut de Radioprotection et de Sureté Nucléaire (IRSN), DRPH, SRBE, LEPID, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France. estelle.rage@irsn.fr
Estelle
E
Rage
Blandine
B
Vacquier
Eric
E
Blanchardon
Rodrigue S
RS
Allodji
James W
JW
Marsh
Sylvaine
S
Caër-Lorho
Alain
A
Acker
Dominique
D
Laurier
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000512:Alpha Particles / Q000009:adverse effects; D001610:Beta Particles / Q000009:adverse effects; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D018499:Linear Energy Transfer; D008168:Lung / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012306:Risk; D013997:Time Factors; D014501:Uranium / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
D014501:Uranium