title: Lung cancer risk at low radon exposure rates in German uranium miners.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A determination of the risk of lung cancer at low levels of radon exposure is important for occupational radiation protection.
  
  
  METHODS
  The risk of death from lung cancer at low radon exposure rates was investigated in the subcohort of 26,766 German uranium miners hired in 1960 or later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A clear association between lung cancer mortality (n=334 deaths) and cumulative exposure to radon in working level months (WLM) was found. The excess relative risk per WLM was 0.013 (95% confidence intervals: 0.007; 0.021).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings provide strong evidence for an increased lung cancer risk after long-term exposure to low radon exposure rates among Wismut miners. The results are compatible to those from residential radon studies and miner studies restricted to low levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Protection and Health, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kreuzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Protection and Health, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fenske
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Protection and Health, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schnelzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Protection and Health, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D000067572:Miners; D008906:Mining / Q000379:methods; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011886:Radon / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014501:Uranium / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014501:Uranium; D011886:Radon