Objective
While there is considerable information about radon-induced lung cancer risks from a range of epidemiological studies of underground miners, there are uncertainties about the assessment of risks arising from radon exposures in dwellings. The overall objectives of the project are to obtain direct information on the risk of lung cancer from indoor radon exposure by conducting epidemiological studies in several European countries, and to improve the quantification of these risks by performing a pooled analysis of these and other European studies.
Three ongoing case-control studies will be completed. These are being performed in:
(i) the Ardennes-Eifel region, where Belgian, French and German partners in collaboration with Luxembourg colleagues are collecting data for about 1200 lung cancer cases and 2400 controls;
(ii) Southwest England, where data on nearly 1000 cases and over 3000 controls will be analysed;
(iii) Brittany, Massif Central and Languedoc Rousillon in France, where ultimately about 600 cases and 1200 controls will be included. Radon measurements will also be made for subjects in recent case-control studies of lung cancer among never-smokers in Sweden. Together with data from earlier Swedish studies, a total of 480 never-smoking cases and 1900 controls will be obtained.
These and other European studies will be included in a pooling exercise. Following the preparation of a protocol, the collaborators will transfer their data to a Secretariat which will be responsible for the organisation and execution of the pooled analysis; full involvement of the collaborators will be sought throughout the process. Although not yet finalised, the total number of lung cancer cases is likely to be of the order of 10,000. The pooled analysis should allow risks from indoor radon to be estimated more precisely and permit investigation of interactions with factors such as smoking.
Programme(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
OX11 0RQ DIDCOT,HARWELL,CHILTON
United Kingdom