Non-cancer disease prevalence and association with occupational radiation exposure among Korean radiation workers

Soojin Park,Songwon Seo,Sunhoo Park,Young Woo Jin,Eun Shil Cha,Dal Nim Lee,Won-Il Jang

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-01875-2

Soojin Park, Songwon Seo + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-01875-2

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Abstract

Radiation-induced cancer risks have known stochastic effects; however, regarding non-cancer diseases, evidence of risk at low radiation doses remains unclear. We aimed to identify underlying characteristics concerning non-cancer disease prevalence and determine associations with radiation dose among Korean radiation workers. Using a nationwide baseline survey, 20,608 workers were enrolled. Data concerning participant demographics, occupational characteristics, lifestyle, and lifetime prevalence of non-cancer diseases were linked to a national dose registry. We compared non-cancer disease prevalences in the Korean general population with those in this cohort and undertook a dose–response analysis concerning the cumulative dose. Hyperlipidemia (10.6%), circulatory (9.6%), and respiratory (4.1%) system diseases, followed by thyroid diseases (3.5%), had the highest prevalences, with hyperlipidemia, thyroid diseases, and hepatitis prevalence being higher in the cohort than in the general population. Radiation doses were associated with elevated prevalences of most diseases; however, associations were attenuated and not significant after adjusting for confounders, except for musculoskeletal system diseases (prevalence odds ratio [POR]/10 mSv, 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00–1.07) and cataracts (POR/10 mSv, 1.04; 95% CI 1.00–1.07). Further studies are warranted to investigate the causality of those non-cancer diseases involving more varied confounders such as physical and psychosocial stresses and ultraviolet light.

Highlights

Radiation-induced cancer risks have known stochastic effects; regarding non-cancer diseases, evidence of risk at low radiation doses remains unclear
The prevalence of most non-cancer diseases was higher in men than in women, but the prevalence of respiratory and thyroid diseases was higher in women (Table 1)
This study aimed to investigate the association between baseline characteristics and prevalence rates concerning non-cancer diseases in relation to radiation doses for radiation workers, further studies are needed to investigate radiation-induced non-cancer diseases based on a cohort study design that includes disease incidence and organ-absorbed doses, including internal doses

Summary

Introduction

Radiation-induced cancer risks have known stochastic effects; regarding non-cancer diseases, evidence of risk at low radiation doses remains unclear. In the LSS study, a higher risk of death was observed in all non-cancer diseases combined and in several sub-diseases (i.e., circulatory, respiratory, and digestive diseases) with increasing levels of radiation exposure[5,6,7] These findings have been supported by some radiation worker studies. The recent International Nuclear Workers Study (INWORKS), which included three countries (France, the United Kingdom, and the United States), reported further evidence that occupational radiation exposure may increase the risk of non-cancer diseases, circulatory diseases[4]. In a previously published paper, we presented baseline characteristics on cancer risk from the K RWS16 and, by extension, this study aimed to evaluate the association between occupational radiation exposure and the prevalence of non-cancer diseases among Korean radiation workers

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