Residential Radon Exposure and Skin Cancer Incidence in a Prospective Danish Cohort.

Background: Although exposure to UV radiation is the major risk factor for skin cancer, theoretical models suggest that radon exposure can contribute to risk, and this is supported by ecological studies. We sought to confirm or refute an association between long-term exposure to residential radon and the risk for malignant melanoma (MM) and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) using a prospective cohort design and long-term residential radon exposure.

Methods: During 1993-1997, we recruited 57,053 Danish persons and collected baseline information.

Distance to high-voltage power lines and risk of childhood leukemia--an analysis of confounding by and interaction with other potential risk factors.

We investigated whether there is an interaction between distance from residence at birth to nearest power line and domestic radon and traffic-related air pollution, respectively, in relation to childhood leukemia risk. Further, we investigated whether adjusting for potential confounders alters the association between distance to nearest power line and childhood leukemia. We included 1024 cases aged <15, diagnosed with leukemia during 1968-1991, from the Danish Cancer Registry and 2048 controls randomly selected from the Danish childhood population and individually matched by gender and year of birth.

Residential radon and brain tumour incidence in a Danish cohort.

Background: Increased brain tumour incidence over recent decades may reflect improved diagnostic methods and clinical practice, but remain unexplained. Although estimated doses are low a relationship between radon and brain tumours may exist.

Objective: To investigate the long-term effect of exposure to residential radon on the risk of primary brain tumour in a prospective Danish cohort.

Residential radon and lung cancer incidence in a Danish cohort.

High-level occupational radon exposure is an established risk factor for lung cancer. We assessed the long-term association between residential radon and lung cancer risk using a prospective Danish cohort using 57,053 persons recruited during 1993-1997. We followed each cohort member for cancer occurrence until 27 June 2006, identifying 589 lung cancer cases.

Is there any interaction between domestic radon exposure and air pollution from traffic in relation to childhood leukemia risk?

Background: In a recent population-based case-control study using 2,400 cases of childhood cancer, we found a statistically significant association between residential radon and acute lymphoblastic leukemia risk.

Hypothesis: Traffic exhaust in the air enhances the risk association between radon and childhood leukemia.

Methods: We included 985 cases of childhood leukemia and 1,969 control children.

Domestic radon and childhood cancer in Denmark.

Background: Higher incidence rates of childhood cancer and particularly leukemia have been observed in regions with higher radon levels, but case-control studies have given inconsistent results. We tested the hypothesis that domestic radon exposure increases the risk for childhood cancer.

Methods: We identified 2400 incident cases of leukemia, central nervous system tumor, and malignant lymphoma diagnosed in children between 1968 and 1994 in the Danish Cancer Registry.

Prediction of 222Rn in Danish dwellings using geology and house construction information from central databases.

A linear regression model has been developed for the prediction of indoor (222)Rn in Danish houses. The model provides proxy radon concentrations for about 21,000 houses in a Danish case-control study on the possible association between residential radon and childhood cancer (primarily leukaemia). The model was calibrated against radon measurements in 3116 houses.

Mapping indoor radon-222 in Denmark: design and test of the statistical model used in the second nationwide survey.

In Denmark, a new survey of indoor radon-222 has been carried out, 1-year alpha track measurements (CR-39) have been made in 3019 single-family houses. There are from 3 to 23 house measurements in each of the 275 municipalities. Within each municipality, houses have been selected randomly.

Avoidable cancers in the Nordic countries. Radiation.

Exposure to solar and ionizing radiation increases the risk for cancer in humans. Some 5% of solar radiation is within the ultraviolet spectrum and may cause both malignant melanoma and non-melanocytic skin cancer; the latter is regarded as a benign disease and is accordingly not included in our estimation of avoidable cancers. Under the assumption that the rate of occurrence of malignant melanoma of the buttocks of both men and women and of the scalp of women would apply to all parts of the body in people completely unexposed to solar radiation, it was estimated that approximately 95% of all malignant melanomas arising in the Nordic populations around the year 2000 will be due to exposure to natural ultraviolet radiation, equivalent to an annual number of about 4700 cases, with 2100 in men and 2600 in women, or some 4% of all cancers notified.

Cancer and ionizing radiation.

The carcinogenic effects of ionizing radiation are well documented at high doses and high dose rates. The Danish population has always been exposed to ionizing radiation from natural sources. In this century exposures from man-made sources especially in the medical field have added to the overall exposure of the population.