Radon progeny exposure and lung cancer risk in New Mexico U miners: a case-control study

Health Phys. 1989 Apr;56(4):415-21. doi: 10.1097/00004032-198904000-00002.

Abstract

A case-control study was conducted to describe lung cancer risk in a cohort of New Mexico underground U miners. The subjects included 65 cases and 230 age-matched controls, most with exposures below 3.50 J h m-3 (1000 WLM). The risk for lung cancer was increased for all cumulative exposures to Rn progeny of 0.35 J h m-3 (100 WLM) or greater. The odds ratios were unchanged with control for cigarette smoking. With exclusion of subjects with exposures above 3.50 J h m-3 (1000 WLM), the estimated excess relative risk was 0.3% per mJ h m-3 (1.1% per WLM). The risk was greater for younger subjects and the data were consistent with a multiplicative interaction between cigarette smoking and exposure to Rn progeny.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Bismuth*
  • Humans
  • Lead*
  • Lung Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mining*
  • Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / etiology*
  • New Mexico
  • Occupational Diseases / etiology*
  • Polonium*
  • Radon Daughters
  • Risk Factors
  • Uranium*

Substances

  • Radon Daughters
  • Lead
  • Uranium
  • Polonium
  • Bismuth