Mortality and Cancer Incidence in a Small Cohort of Miners Exposed to Low Levels of Alpha Radiation

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Due to the continuing controversy over the effects on humans of low-level ionizing radiation, overall mortality and cancer incidence among miners from a magnetite mine was investigated. The study comprises 332 underground miners. The average concentration of Rn progeny is presently 0.10–0.15 working levels (WL). Included in the study were those employed for more than 36 months in the period 1940–1960, who were still alive in 1953. The follow-up period covers 1953–1980. Mortality was equal to estimated values based on age-specific national figures. The observed/expected ratio for lung cancer incidence was 1.1. Comparison was also made to 190 miners from a mine with negligible radiation (less than 0.02 WL). The same mortality was observed, but this mine showed a ratio for lung cancer incidence of 2.2. The study population is too small to repudiate the hypothesis of increased health risk after exposure to low levels of alpha radiation.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: