Residential radon exposure and brain cancer: an ecological study in a radon prone area (Galicia, Spain)

Abstract

We aimed to know if radon concentration is associated with municipal mortality due to brain cancer in Galicia, Spain. We designed an ecological study taking as study unit Galician municipalities. To be included, municipalities had to have at least three radon measurements. We correlated radon concentrations with municipal mortality due to these malignant tumors during the period 1999–2008. We calculated the relative risk of dying of brain cancers for each municipality and correlated this value with municipal radon concentration using Spearman’s Rho. 251 municipalities were included, with close to 3,500 radon measurements and an average of 14 radon measurements at each municipality. We observed a significant correlation between residential radon with brain cancer mortality for males and females and the intensity of the correlation was higher for females. These results were reinforced when the analysis was restricted to municipalities with more than 5 radon measurements: Spearman’s Rho 0.286 (p-value < 0.001) and Spearman’s Rho 0.509 (p-value < 0.001) for males and females, respectively. These results suggest an association between residential radon and brain cancer mortality. More research using more robust epidemiological designs is needed to confirm these findings.

Levels of Polonium-210 in brain and pulmonary tissues: Preliminary study in autopsies conducted in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil

“…Our finding that women had higher 210 Po levels among different tissues than men are consistent with previous research. Ruano-Ravina et al examined the association between residential radon levels and brain cancer mortality in Galicia, Spain, and showed that the risks were higher among women 29 . The authors attributed this to the fact that women spend more time in residential environments as compared to men 29 .…”

“…Ruano-Ravina et al examined the association between residential radon levels and brain cancer mortality in Galicia, Spain, and showed that the risks were higher among women 29 . The authors attributed this to the fact that women spend more time in residential environments as compared to men 29 . Furthermore, the reduced capacity of pulmonary clearance observed in women and smoking individuals might explain our lung tissue findings.…”

Radon Exposure—Therapeutic Effect and Cancer Risk

“…There is some evidence for a correlation between chronic exposure to radon and mortality due to malignant brain tumors. Nevertheless, this study had a non-robust epidemiological design to confirm this finding [ 81 ]. Additionally, in studies on the occurrence of the radon decay products 210 Po and 210 Bi in the brain of persons suffering from Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, an inhomogeneous distribution of these nuclides was found, but these findings are not sufficient to draw conclusions concerning correlative underlying mechanisms [ 82 , 83 ].…”

Residential Radon Exposure and Lung Cancer Risk in Kazakhstan

“…Some epidemiological studies have suggested a positive correlation between environmental radon exposure and prostate cancer [50]. A study in Galicia (Spain) showed a correlation between brain cancer mortality and indoor radon exposure [51].…”