Environmental/Occupational Exposure to Radon and Non-Pulmonary Neoplasm Risk: A Review of Epidemiologic Evidence

Paola Mozzoni, Silvana Pinelli, Massimo Corradi, Silvia Ranzieri, Delia Cavallo and Diana Poli
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Paola Mozzoni: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
Silvana Pinelli: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
Massimo Corradi: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
Silvia Ranzieri: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
Delia Cavallo: INAIL Research, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Via Fontana Candida 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Italy
Diana Poli: INAIL Research, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Via Fontana Candida 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 19, 1-23

Abstract: Although Radon (Rn) is a known agent for lung cancer, the link between Rn exposure and other non-pulmonary neoplasms remains unclear. The aim of this review is to investigate the role of Rn in the development of tumors other than lung cancer in both occupational and environmental exposure. Particularly, our attention has been focused on leukemia and tumors related to brain and central nervous system (CNS), skin, stomach, kidney, and breast. The epidemiologic literature has been systematically reviewed focusing on workers, general population, and pediatric population. A weak increase in leukemia risk due to Rn exposure was found, but bias and confounding factors cannot be ruled out. The results of studies conducted on stomach cancer are mixed, although with some prevalence for a positive association with Rn exposure. In the case of brain and CNS cancer and skin cancer, results are inconclusive, while no association was found for breast and kidney cancers. Overall, the available evidence does not support a conclusion that a causal association has been established between Rn exposure and the risk of other non-pulmonary neoplasms mainly due to the limited number and heterogeneity of existing studies. To confirm this result, a statistical analysis should be necessary, even if it is now not applicable for the few studies available.

Keywords: radon; epidemiological studies; cancer risk; environmental exposure; occupational exposure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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