LUNG CANCER RISK ATTRIBUTABLE TO INDOOR RADON IN A HIGH RADON POTENTIAL REGION OF FRANCE

Awareness of the health risks due to exposure to indoor radon has raised concern about its impact in the general population. Using all available epidemiologic results, our goal is to accurately estimate this risk based on data collected in a high radon potential region of France (Franche-Comte). For this study, we considered exposure (response relations derived from cohorts of miners and from joint analyses of residential case) from various control studies. The exposure data come from a representative measurement campaign conducted in Franche-Comte. The estimated number of lung cancer deaths attributable to indoor radon exposure in this region ranges from 72 to 139, depending on the model considered. The attributable risk is higher in granitic area (22 to 39% for 7 to 12 deaths) but the number of deaths is higher in sedimentary area (65 to 127 deaths for 13 to 26%). Although indoor radon concentrations are higher in granitic area, the public health impact is more important in sedimentary area because of higher population density.