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Residential radon exposure and cancer
Akhila Reddy1, Camila Conde1, Christopher Peterson1
1The School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas.
Oncology Reviews
|April 7, 2022
Summary
Radon gas is a known lung carcinogen, primarily posing a risk to smokers. While its link to lung cancer is clear, evidence for radon causing other cancers is currently inconclusive.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Oncology
- Radiation Biology
Background:
- Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas and an established human lung carcinogen.
- It is a significant environmental source of ionizing radiation, contributing to DNA damage and lung cancer risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the established association between radon and lung cancer.
- To evaluate the current evidence for radon's association with non-lung cancers.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating radon exposure and various cancer types.
- Analysis of evidence for associations, considering study design and confounding variables.
Main Results:
- A strong association between residential radon exposure and lung cancer is well-established.
- Evidence for radon's association with non-lung cancers (solid and non-solid) is inconsistent and limited.
- Potential associations with skin, central nervous system (CNS), renal, and stomach cancers warrant further investigation.
Conclusions:
- Lung cancer remains the primary concern regarding residential radon exposure.
- The lack of conclusive evidence for other cancers may stem from insufficient study sample sizes, inaccurate exposure assessments, and inadequate control for confounders.
- Radon mitigation efforts should prioritize smokers with high exposure levels.
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