Residential Radon Exposure and Lung Cancer in Sweden

• Published in: NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE Vol. 330; no. 3; pp. 159 - 164
• Main Authors: Pershagen, Goran, Akerblom, Gustav, Axelson, Olav, Clavensjo, Bertil, Damber, Lena, Desai, Gunilla, Enflo, Anita, Lagarde, Frederic, Mellander, Hans, Svartengren, Magnus, Swedjemark, Gun Astri
• Format: Journal Article Publication
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 20.01.1994
• Subjects: 550900 - Pathology; 560151 - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man; Adult; ADULTS; Age; AGE GROUPS; Aged; AGED ADULTS; Air Pollutants, Radioactive - adverse effects; Air Pollutants, Radioactive - analysis; AIR POLLUTION; Air Pollution, Indoor - adverse effects; Air Pollution, Indoor - analysis; BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; Biological and medical sciences; BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS; BODY; BUILDINGS; Case-Control Studies; Confidence Intervals; DISEASE INCIDENCE; DISEASES; ELDERLY PEOPLE; ELEMENTS; ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Environmental health; Epidemiology; Female; FLUIDS; GASES; Health risk assessment; HOUSES; HUMAN POPULATIONS; Humans; INDOOR AIR POLLUTION; Ionizing radiation; Laboratory animals; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - epidemiology; Lung Neoplasms - etiology; LUNGS; Male; MATHEMATICS; Medical sciences; Mens health; Middle Aged; MINORITY GROUPS; NEOPLASMS; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced - etiology; NONMETALS; ORGANS; Pneumology; POLLUTION; POPULATIONS; RADIATION EFFECTS; RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT; RADON; Radon - adverse effects; Radon - analysis; RARE GASES; REGRESSION ANALYSIS; RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS; RESPIRATORY SYSTEM; Risk Factors; Smoking; Smoking - adverse effects; STATISTICS; Sweden - epidemiology; Tumors; Tumors of the respiratory system and mediastinum; Uranium; Womens health; Sweden; Europe; Human; Residential zone; Lung disease; Respiratory disease; Radon; Lung; Exposure; Malignant tumor
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199401203300302

Radon-222 in dwellings is the dominant source of exposure to ionizing radiation in most countries 1 . Nationwide measurement programs suggest that the average radon concentration in Sweden is about 2.7 pCi per liter (100 Bq per cubic meter), a level that appears higher than those in many other countries. Current standards in Sweden correspond to about 3.8 pCi per liter (140 Bq per cubic meter) for new houses and 10.8 pCi per liter (400 Bq per cubic meter) for existing houses, whereas in the United States the recommended level at which action should be taken is 4 pCi per liter . . .