The risk of laryngeal cancer among coal miners in the light of radioactivity of mines and tobacco smoking

: Until recently the exposure associated with the short-lived radon daughters (S-LRD) was thought to apply exclusively to uranium ore mines. The last few years have brought information on the presence of this hazard in non-uranium raw materials mines, e.g. in hard coal mines. It was ascertained that the hard coal mines exposure to the S-LRD lead to increase of frequent of larynx cancer cases in this population on the Upper Silesia Region. 67 Upper Silesia hard coal mines were divided for three groups: I.--(4 number of mines), highest hazard, i.e. 0.4- < 2.5 microJ/m3; III.--35, lowest hazard (risk relative level-RR = 1.00), i.e. < 0.4 microJ/m3. In compare these 3 groups taking into consideration tobacco smoking standardized we have following results of the RR: for suffering natives from larynx cancer: I.--2.86 (at p < 0.05), II.--1.08, at III.--1.00, and for immigrants: I.--6.97 (at p < 0.05), II.--2.09, at III.--1.00 (it is reference level.