Epidemiology of Lung and Larynx Cancers in Coal Mines in Upper Silesia—preliminary Results

Abstract

The results of the preliminary analysis of the risk of lung and larynx cancers among coal miners in Upper Silesia are presented. The risk increases substantially during the work under conditions of short-lived radon progeny hazard, especially when the concentration of alpha potential energy of short-lived radon progeny is higher than 2.5 (microJ m(-3)) that corresponds to the possibility of receiving the effective dose higher than 6 mSv y(-1). Significant differences of the risk are noticed between sub-populations of autochthon-miners and immigrant-miners: it was found that the relative risk for immigrant-miners was up to 2 times higher than for autochthon-miners.

Coal mining is associated with lung cancer risk in Xuanwei, China

“…Another study in the United States comparing 3,792 lung cancer cases to 1,966 colorectal cancer cases that were used as controls, found a suggested increased risk of lung cancer among coal miners (Swanson et al, 1993). Working as a coal miner was also reported to be associated with increased risk of lung cancer in Europe (Skowronek and Zemla, 2003). Three smaller case–control studies in the United States and Europe; however, found no evidence of this association (Ames et al, 1983; Meijers et al, 1988; Jockel et al, 1998).…”

“…Numerous health effects associated with underground coal mining have been studied, including pneumoconiosis, tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other nonmalignant diseases of the lung (Merchant et al, 1986; Kuempel et al, 1995; Isidro et al, 2004). Studies evaluating the risk of lung cancer among underground coal miners have reported conflicting results (Ames et al, 1983; Meijers et al, 1988; Morabia et al, 1992; Swanson et al, 1993; IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of the Carcinogenic Risks to Human 1997; Jockel et al, 1998; Skowronek and Zemla, 2003; Hoffmann and Jockel, 2006; Attfield and Kuempel, 2008; Miller and MacCalman, 2010).…”

“…These inconsistencies have been partially attributed to the shortcomings of the study design, such as lack of individual data on risk factors, and potential influences associated with the healthy worker effect (Hoffmann and Jockel, 2006). Similarly, case–control studies have reported inconsistencies for the risk of lung cancer among coal miners, with few studies having access to the workers' complete occupational histories (Ames et al, 1983; Meijers et al, 1988; Morabia et al, 1992; Swanson et al, 1993; Jockel et al, 1998; Skowronek and Zemla, 2003; Hoffmann and Jockel, 2006).…”

Radonmessungen in Wohngebäuden im Rybniker Kreis

“…Die Halbwertszeit der Isotope hat wesentliche Bedeutung für die Möglichkeit ihrer Verbreitung in der natürlichen Umwelt. Wenn es um den radiologischen Schutz geht, ist Radon Rn-222 am wichtigsten, das Edelgas mit der längsten Halbwertszeit, nämlich 3 Tage, 19 Stunden und 48 Minuten (Zerfallskonstante l = 7,55 • 10 -3 • h -1 ). Radon Rn-222 stammt direkt aus dem am meisten verbreiteten Radisotop Ra-266.…”

Dosimetria gama e concentração de 222Rn em ambientes de trabalho fechados da cidade de São Paulo

“…O monitoramento da concentração do 222 Rn em ambientes fechados precisa da medida separada da atividade deste gás e de seus produtos de decaimento (filhos), que são os verdadeiros responsáveis pela dose recebida no aparelho respiratório [2,13,17,49].É por esse motivo que necessitamos de um arranjo que hospede o detector de partículas alfa LR-115 II e também seja capaz de atuar como separador, além de obter atividades integradas em muitos meses de exposição, e de ter características pouco dependentes da taxa de ventilação.…”