EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDIES ON LUNG CANCER AND RESIDENTIAL EXPOSURE TO RADON IN ITALY AND OTHER COUNTRIES

摘要

The present estimates of the lung cancer risk for the general population due to radon exposure in dwellings are generally obtained by extrapolating the risk estimates derived from epidemiologic studies on miner cohorts. However, due to uncertainties related to this extrapolation, numerous case-control studies in Europe and North America were planned to estimate directly the risk in dwellings. Most of these studies are still underway and, thanks to their similar design and compatible protocols, it will be possible to perform a pooled analysis in order to improve statistical power. One of these projects is being conducted in the Lazio region of Italy. In this paper the main results of the studies already published are summarised, and the principal characteristics of the Italian study are outlined.