title: Lung cancer risk due to residential radon exposures: estimation and prevention.
abstract: Epidemiological studies proved that cumulative exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, the world's most common cancer. The objectives of the present study are (i) to analyse lung cancer risk for chronic, low radon exposures based on the transformation frequency-tissue response (TF-TR) model formulated in terms of alpha particle hits in cell nuclei; (ii) to assess the percentage of attributable lung cancers in six areas of Transylvania where the radon concentration was measured and (iii) to point out the most efficient remediation measures tested on a pilot house in Stei, Romania. Simulations performed with the TF-TR model exhibit a linear dose-effect relationship for chronic, residential radon exposures. The fraction of lung cancer cases attributed to radon ranged from 9 to 28% for the investigated areas. Model predictions may represent a useful tool to complement epidemiological studies on lung cancer risk and to establish reasonable radiation protection regulations for human safety.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Radioactivity and Nuclear Dating Center, Babes-Bolyai University, Fantanele Str. 30, Cluj-Napoca 400294, Romania luciadinapopa@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Truta
authors.affiliation: Division of Physics and Biophysics, Department of Materials Research and Physics, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunner Str. 34, Salzburg 5020, Austria.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.affiliation: Environmental Radioactivity and Nuclear Dating Center, Babes-Bolyai University, Fantanele Str. 30, Cluj-Napoca 400294, Romania.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cosma
mesh_terms: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011835:Radiation Protection; D011886:Radon / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012383:Romania; D014501:Uranium / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D014501:Uranium; D011886:Radon