A number of lines of evidence indicate that radon gas (progeny) is a potent lung carcinogen. Indoor radon has recently been reported to be a serious health risk in the U.S. Advisories have been issued indicating it is the second leading risk factor for lung cancer and may be responsible for up to 20,000 lung cancer deaths per year. While radon might be presumed to be a carcinogen in the home environment, it is unclear whether actual empirical evidence will show an increased lung cancer incidence in those non-occupationally but residentially exposed. A population-based case-control study is proposed to evaluate the association between residential radon exposure and the incidence of lung cancer among females in the state of Iowa. Because of the population composition of Iowa, over 98% of the cases will be of the white race. This 5-year study will involve 600 cases and 600 controls between the ages of 40 and 84. It will have three major components: 1) a cage-control mailed/telephone follow-up questionnaire; 2) a residential radon exposure assessment; and 3) independent histopathologic review of lung cancer tissues. Eligibility criteria will include the requirement of 25 years or more of residence in the same home at time of initial diagnosis among cases and at time of initial contact among controls. Our data collection goals will be to obtain at least an 80% response rate from the control group and an 85% response rate from the case group. Recent previous experience indicates these goals are attainable. Although several epidemiologic studies of radon in the home and lung cancer have already been performed or are currently being performed, this study is better designed to address this important health topic for several reasons: 1) a substantial proportion of the population will reside for 25 years or more in the same home; 2) a high quality, statewide cancer surveillance system which will allow for rapid identification of newly diagnosed lung cancer cases; 3) 70% of homes in the state have radon levels exceeding 4 pCi/liter and 4) multiple year-long measurements of radon in a subject's home will yield more accurate estimates of residential radon exposure. All of these reasons are described in further detail within this proposal.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01ES005653-03
Application #
2154389
Study Section
Epidemiology and Disease Control Subcommittee 2 (EDC)
Project Start
1992-09-30
Project End
1997-09-29
Budget Start
1994-09-30
Budget End
1995-09-29
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1994
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Iowa
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
041294109
City
Iowa City
State
IA
Country
United States
Zip Code
52242
Barros, Nirmalla; Field, Dan W; Steck, Daniel J et al. (2015) Comparative survey of outdoor, residential and workplace radon concentrations. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 163:325-32
Barros, Nirmalla G; Steck, Daniel J; Field, R William (2014) A comparison of winter short-term and annual average radon measurements in basements of a radon-prone region and evaluation of further radon testing indicators. Health Phys 106:535-44
Sun, Kainan; Field, R William; Steck, Daniel J (2010) Room model based Monte Carlo simulation study of the relationship between the airborne dose rate and the surface-deposited radon progeny. Health Phys 98:29-36
Sun, Kainan; Steck, Daniel J; Field, R William (2009) Field investigation of surface-deposited radon progeny as a possible predictor of the airborne radon progeny dose rate. Health Phys 97:132-44
Smith, Brian J; Zhang, Lixun; Field, R William (2007) Iowa radon leukaemia study: a hierarchical population risk model for spatially correlated exposure measured with error. Stat Med 26:4619-42
Zhang, Zugui; Smith, Brian; Steck, Daniel J et al. (2007) Variation in yearly residential radon concentrations in the upper midwest. Health Phys 93:288-97
Field, R William; Krewski, Daniel; Lubin, Jay H et al. (2006) An overview of the North American residential radon and lung cancer case-control studies. J Toxicol Environ Health A 69:599-631
Neuberger, John S; Mahnken, Jonathan D; Mayo, Matthew S et al. (2006) Risk factors for lung cancer in Iowa women: implications for prevention. Cancer Detect Prev 30:158-67
Krewski, Daniel; Lubin, Jay H; Zielinski, Jan M et al. (2006) A combined analysis of North American case-control studies of residential radon and lung cancer. J Toxicol Environ Health A 69:533-97
Field, R W; Smith, B J; Platz, C E et al. (2004) Lung cancer histologic type in the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results registry versus independent review. J Natl Cancer Inst 96:1105-7

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