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Health Effects of Exposure to Radon Time for Reassessment? (1994) / Chapter Skim
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1 Introduction
Pages 11-16

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From page 11...
... When these emissions take place in the lung as inhaled and deposited progeny undergo decay, Me cells lining Me airways can be damaged in such a way that lung cancer can eventually occur. Radon has long been known to cause lung cancer (for a review, see National Research Council, 19881.
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From page 12...
... Early in the twentieth century, high concentrations of radon were measured in the Schneeberg mines and in the nearby mines of Joachimsthal, where underground miners also developed lung cancer. Radon was considered to be a possible cause of We lung cancer, and this was conf~rrned Trough epidemiolog~c studies of miners of uranium and other ores (for a review, see National Research Council, 1988; Samet, 19891.
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From page 13...
... Some of these assumptions are: ~ The risks observed at occupational exposure levels and dose rates can be extended to typically lower indoor exposure levels and dose rates. ~ The modifying effects of smoking OI1 the risk associated with exposure to radon progeny are similar in miners and the general public.
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From page 14...
... were performed; lungs cer incidence or mortality rates in geographic areas were compared with indexes of radon exposure for inhabitants of these units. However, the evidence from those studies has been inconsistent, and methodologic limitations seriously limit the value of the ecologic design for characterizing the lung-cancer risk associated with indoor radon (Stidley and Samet, 19931.
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From page 15...
... INTRODUCrlON regarding a positive association between the level of indoor radon and He occurrence of lung cancer; therefore, indoor radon should be considered a potential public-health problem. The scope of the exposed population and the large number of lung-cancer cases attributed to radon have provided a strong impetus for populationand laboratory-bas~ research designed to provide a more complete understanding of radon carcinogenesis arid more accurate risk assessments.
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Key Terms

  • lung cancer
  • underground miners
  • indoor air
  • epidemiologic studies
  • risk associated

  • dose rates
  • exposure levels
  • seriously limit
  • addressing indoor
  • underground workers

  • schneeberg mines
  • lower indoor
  • carcinogen contaminates
  • indoor exposure
  • soil beneath

  • air pollutant
  • occupational exposure
  • radon daughters
  • risk models
  • exposed populations

  • contaminates indoor
  • decay products
  • developed lung
  • risks observed
  • increased risk

  • appropriate epidemiologic
  • lung cancers
  • utility natural
  • methodologic limitations
  • formerly radon


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