Case-Control Study on Lung Cancer and Residential Radon in South Korea

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Radon exposure is a major risk factor of lung cancer. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines radon as the major cause of lung cancer following smoking, with 3-14% of lung cancer occurring worldwide. The WHO recommends radon concentration lower than 100 Bq/m3. In recent years, most of the advances in personalized therapy in Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients also occurred in non-smokers. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of residential radon exposure on the risk of lung cancer in non-smokers and female in Korea.Method: This study was designed a multicenter hospital-based case and community-based control study in Korea. The seasonal correction was applied to the measured values of the radon concentration in both the case and control groups. Total 1053 (481 cases and 572 controls) were included in the data. 1:1 propensity score matching was performed considering age, sex, smoking status, involuntary smoking status, number of ventilation, impervious ratio, and type of house. Odds ratio for the risk of lung cancer according to the status of smoking and sex were performed using logistic regression and nonlinear regression analysis.Result: After seasonal correction, mean and standard deviation of radon concentration was 69.67±49.99 Bq/m3 in cases and 60.45±44.57 Bq/m3 in controls. 200 cases and 200 controls were matched and 51% were females. When we analyzed radon concentration as continuous, we observed an adjusted odds ratio of 1.92(95% CI : 1.13-3.25) in never-smokers and 1.19(95% CI : 0.68-2.09) in smokers. The adjusted odds ratio was 1.93(95% CI : 1.09-3.43) in females and 1.19(95% CI : 0.72-7.98) in males.Conclusion: Residential radon increases lung cancer risk among non-smoker and female. Therefore, intensive investigation of the relationship between lung cancer risk and smoking status or sex should be conducted to elucidate this results.