title: Incidence rates of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in US states are associated with residential radon levels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Environmental risk factors for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have not been consistently identified. An etiologic role for ionizing radiation in CLL is controversial. Because most of the ionizing radiation to which individuals are exposed comes from radon at home, we examined CLL incidence rates in relation to residential radon levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used population-based rates for CLL for US states from 2007 to 2011 and measurements of residential radon made by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incidence rates for CLL were significantly correlated with residential radon levels among whites (both genders together and each gender separately; p < 0.005) and among blacks (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We speculate that radon increases CLL risk and that the mechanisms may be similar to those by which radon causes lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health, University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
authors.forename: Gary G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine & Center for Rural Health, University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
authors.forename: Marilyn G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Klug
mesh_terms: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011886:Radon / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D011886:Radon
keywords: chronic lymphocytic leukemia; epidemiology; geography; incidence; ionizing radiation; radon