Residential radon and lung cancer risk in never smokers in a radon prone aerea in Spain.

Abstract

Objetive: The aim of this study was to assess the relation between residential radon exposure and lung cancer risk in never smokers. Material and Methods: Multicentric, hospital-based, case-control study. Consecutive cases of lung cancer diagnosed in never smokers in 10 hospitals in the northwest of Spain were included. Controls were never smokers undergoing minor, non-oncologic surgery at the same hospitals. All participants were interviewed by trained personnel trhough a quiestionaire, focusing on risk factors for lung cancer. Residential radon at dwellings was measured using alpha-track detectors. Results: We included 322 cases (80,4% women) and 338 controls (77,8% women), median age:70. The most frequent hystologic type was adenocarcinoma (78.5%). Description of participants characteristics is shown in Table 1. Residential radon concentration was > 200 Bq/m3 in 45.3% of cases and 30.2% of controls. Individuals exposed to > 200 Bq/m3 showed an increased risk of lung cancer compared wih those exposed to Conclusions: Exposure to residential radon increases the risk of lung cancer in never smokers.