The role of the implementation of policies for the prevention of exposure to Radon in Brazil-a strategy for controlling the risk of developing lung cancer.

Aline Da Rocha Lino

doi:10.3332/ecancer.2015.572

Abstract

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States and other industrialised countries. The most important risk factor is active smoking. However, given the increased incidence of lung cancer in non-smokers, it is necessary to improve knowledge regarding other risk factors. Radon (Rn) is a noble gas and is the most important natural source of human exposure to ionizing radiation. Exposure to high levels of this radioactive gas is related to an increased risk of developing lung cancer. The objective of this work is to highlight the importance of measuring indoor concentration of this gas and identify which steps should be taken for achieving radiological protection.A survey was conducted on the websites of the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), LAMIN (Mineral Analysis Laboratory), CPRM (Geological Survey of Brazil), Ministry of Health and PubMed. Using the words ‘radon’, ‘lung’, ‘cancer’, and PubMed®, 1,371 results were obtained; when using the words ‘radon’, ‘lung’, ‘cancer’, and with ‘Brazil’ or ‘Brazilians’, only six results were obtained. We emphasise that lung cancer is a major public health problem and the exposure to Rn indoors should be considered as a risk factor for lung cancer in non-smokers. Buildings or houses with high concentrations of Rn should be identified. However, currently in Brazil—a country with great potential for mineral extraction—there are no specific regulated recommendations to control indoor exposure to Rn.

Highlights

Lung cancer represents the main cause of death from cancer throughout the world
Two articles dealt with exposure to Rn in coal mines, two were studies conducted outside the country which mentioned Brazil, and the remaining two articles were the only that dealt with studies of Rn in the Brazilian population [18, 19]
The Environmental Protection Agency of the United States (EPA) estimates that Rn is the principal cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, and may be responsible for nearly 21,000 deaths from lung cancer per year [14]

Summary

Introduction

Lung cancer represents the main cause of death from cancer throughout the world. The mean cumulative total survival rate at five years varies between 13% and 21% in developed countries and 7% and 10% in developing countries [1]. The global estimate gave an incidence of 1.82 million new cases of lung cancer for the year 2012. Though its main risk factor continues to be the consumption of tobacco products [3], there has been an increase in the number of cases in non-smoker patients. For this reason, it has become necessary to better understand other risk factors. The death rates from lung cancer are declining in developed countries, where tobacco consumption has declined in the last decades. The rates of lung cancer and mortality are increasing in developing countries, including many countries of Latin America [1]

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