Estimating the burden of lung cancer in Canada attributed to occupational radon exposure using a novel exposure assessme
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Estimating the burden of lung cancer in Canada attributed to occupational radon exposure using a novel exposure assessment method C. B. Ge1,2 · J. Kim3,4 · F. Labrèche5,6 · E. Heer7 · C. Song3 · V. H. Arrandale3,8 · M. Pahwa3 · C. E. Peters2,7,9 · P. A. Demers3,8 Received: 27 September 2019 / Accepted: 16 March 2020 © The Author(s) 2020
Abstract Objective Exposure to radon causes lung cancer. The scope and impact of exposure among Canadian workers have not been assessed. Our study estimated occupational radon exposure in Canada and its associated lung cancer burden. Methods Exposed workers were identified among the working population during the risk exposure period (1961–2001) using data from the Canadian Census and Labour Force Survey. Exposure levels were assigned based on 12,865 workplace radon measurements for indoor workers and assumed to be 1800 mg/m3 for underground workers. Lung cancer risks were calculated using the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) VI exposure-age-concentration model. Population attributable fractions were calculated with Levin’s equation and applied to 2011 Canadian lung cancer statistics. Results Approximately 15.5 million Canadian workers were exposed to radon during the risk exposure period. 79% of exposed workers were exposed to radon levels 150 Bq/m3. We estimated that 0.8% of lung cancers in Canada were attributable to occupational radon exposure, corresponding to approximately 188 incident lung cancers in 2011. Conclusions The lung cancer burden associated with occupational radon exposure in Canada is small, with the greatest burden occurring among those exposed to low levels of radon. Keywords Lung cancer · Radon · Occupational exposure · Disease burden
Introduction Radon is a radioactive gas that is naturally created by the decay of uranium in rocks and soil (National Toxicology Program 2015). Inhalation of radon and its radioactive decay progenies (hereafter: radon) damages the lung * C. B. Ge [email protected] 1
tissue and can lead to malignancy (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) 2012). In outdoor air, radon is diluted in combination with other gases in the atmosphere but, when occurring indoors, it can accumulate to higher levels. Radon is heavier than air, so levels of radon in confined or underground spaces are often elevated 6
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM Utrecht, Netherlands
7
2
CAREX Canada, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Canada
8
3
Occupational Cancer Research Centre, Cancer Care Ontario, Toronto, Canada
Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
9
Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
4
Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupation
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