title: Residential radon and lung cancer risk: an updated meta- analysis of case-control studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Numbers of epidemiological studies assessing residential radon exposure and risk of lung cancer have yielded inconsistent results.
  
  
  METHODS
  We therefore performed a meta-analysis of relevant published case- control studies searched in the PubMed database through July 2011 to examine the association. The combined odds ratio (OR) were calculated using fixed- or random-effects models. Subgroup and dose-response analyses were also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 22 case-control studies of residential radon and lung cancer risk involving 13,380 cases and 21,102 controls. The combined OR of lung cancer for the highest with the lowest exposure was 1.29 (95% CI 1.10-1.51). Dose-response analysis showed that every 100 Bq/m3 increment in residential radon exposure was associated with a significant 7% increase in lung cancer risk. Subgroup analysis displayed a more pronounced association in the studies conducted in Europe. Studies restricted to female or non-smokers demonstrated weakened associations between exposure and lung cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This meta- analysis provides new evidence supporting the conclusion that residential exposure to radon can significantly increase the risk of lung cancer in a dose-response manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Toxicology, School of Public Health of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zeng-Li
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Jia-Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Hai-Lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Lian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Li-Qiang
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tong
mesh_terms: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011886:Radon / Q000633:toxicity*; D012306:Risk; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D011886:Radon