Study links residential radon exposure to hematologic cancers in women

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-04/acs-slr042816.php

Public Release: 28-Apr-2016
Study links residential radon exposure to hematologic cancers in women
First population-based study to make connection; requires replication
American Cancer Society

A new report finds a statistically-significant, positive association between high levels of residential radon and the risk of hematologic cancer (lymphoma, myeloma, and leukemia) in women. The study is the first prospective, population-based study of residential radon exposure and hematologic cancer risk, leading the authors to caution that it requires replication to better understand the association and whether it truly differs by sex. It appears early online in Environmental Research.

Radon is a naturally occurring byproduct of the decay of radium, and is a known human lung carcinogen, the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Modeling studies show that radon delivers a non-negligible dose of alpha radiation to the bone marrow and therefore could be related to risk of hematologic cancers. Studies to date, however, have produced inconsistent results.

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