Lung Cancer Risk from Environmental Exposure to Radon Daughters. ICRP Publication 50

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Abstract
A summary of the recently published ICRP Task Group report on the lung cancer risk from environmental exposure to radon daughters is given. The attributable risk has been estimated proceeding from the excess lung cancer rate observed among Rn exposed miners and among the atomic bomb survivors, taking into account appropriate correction factors. Different types of approaches are outlined, using absolute and relative risk projection models and assuming a linear exposure-risk relationship at low exposure levels. The main emphasis is given to a proportional hazard model which has been adapted to account for these epidemiological data. The results of surveys yield, for most countries, a population-averaged mean value of 10-25 Bq.m-3 for the equilibrium equivalent 222Rn concentration in houses. Assuming a chronic lifetime exposure at this mean indoor level the risk analysis indicates that about 3-15% of the total observed lung cancer rate among populations might be associated with the environmental exposure to radon daughters. The proportional hazard model leads to the suggestion that this relative fraction might be nearly the same for smokers and non-smokers, and for males and females. The so caled 'dosimetric approach' yields a risk value at the lower end of the given range.

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