Residential radon-222 exposure and lung cancer: exposure assessment methodology

J Expo Anal Environ Epidemiol. 1996 Apr-Jun;6(2):181-95.

Abstract

Although occupational epidemiological studies and animal experimentation provide strong evidence that radon-222 (222Rn) progeny exposure causes lung cancer, residential epidemiological studies have not confirmed this association. Past residential epidemiological studies have yielded contradictory findings. Exposure misclassification has seriously compromised the ability of these studies to detect whether an association exists between 222Rn exposure and lung cancer. Misclassification of 222Rn exposure has arisen primarily from: 1) detector measurement error; 2) failure to consider temporal and spatial 222Rn variations within a home; 3) missing data from previously occupied homes that currently are inaccessible; 4) failure to link 222Rn concentrations with subject mobility; and 5) measuring 222Rn gas concentration as a surrogate for 222Rn progeny exposure. This paper examines these methodological dosimetry problems and addresses how we are accounting for them in an ongoing, population-based, case-control study of 222Rn and lung cancer in Iowa.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants, Radioactive / administration & dosage
  • Air Pollutants, Radioactive / analysis
  • Air Pollution, Indoor / analysis*
  • Carcinogens, Environmental / administration & dosage
  • Carcinogens, Environmental / analysis
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects
  • Environmental Exposure / statistics & numerical data*
  • Environmental Monitoring / instrumentation
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods
  • Epidemiologic Methods
  • Epidemiological Monitoring
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Iowa / epidemiology
  • Lung Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Lung Neoplasms / etiology
  • Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / epidemiology
  • Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / etiology
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Radon / administration & dosage
  • Radon / adverse effects
  • Radon / analysis*
  • Radon Daughters / administration & dosage
  • Radon Daughters / adverse effects
  • Risk Assessment

Substances

  • Air Pollutants, Radioactive
  • Carcinogens, Environmental
  • Radon Daughters
  • Radon