The Relationship between Radon Concentration and Lung Cancer for People Living in Yogyakarta, Indonesia and Jenin, Palestine
ABSTRACT: Background: Exposure to high radon concentrations have been linked to an increased risk of lung cancer confirmed by both experimental studies and investigations of underground miners. Therefore there was a decision to conduct this study in Yogyakarta, Indonesia and Jenin, Palestine to determine whether or not the risk of lung cancer is associated with exposure to residential radon. Materials and Methods: Hospital-based case-control study conducted among Indonesian subjects at Dr. Sardjito general hospital covered a total of 35 cases with incident of lung cancer and 35 controls subjects, which carried out between April 2014 until June 2014. A Similar study in Palestine at Dr. Khalil Hospital covered a total of 41 cases with lung cancer and 41 controls, carried out between November 2014 until April 2015 Following by measurements employed CR-39 plastic track detector commonly known as Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors (SSNTDs) which is installed in the sitting-room of dwelling for an exposure time of 150 day among Indonesian subjects and 180 days among Palestinian subjects. Results: In the dwellings of Yogyakarta city, average radon concentrations ranges from 2 to 46 Bq per cubic m with a mean of 10.1 Bq per cubic m.The OR of lung cancer for indoor radon exposure was OR [1.67(95%CI,0.605-4.58)] Per 10 Bq per cubic m Related to the concentration below 10 Bq per cubic m. While, average of radon concentration in dwellings of Jenin city ranges from 2 to 497 Bq per cubic m with a mean of 62.84 Bq per cubic m. The OR of lung cancer for indoor radon exposure was 3.33 (95 percentage CI,0.917-12.11)] Per 100Bq per cubic m Related to the concentration below 100 Bq per cubic m. However, despite the relationship between radon exposure and lung cancer is decreased after combined the data from both countries with OR [2.222 (95 percentage CI, 1.0118-4.88)] Per 100Bq per cubic m the effects remain statistically significant (P=0.47).The mean annual effective dose received by the residents of the studied area found to be 0.05 -1.15. mSv in dwellings for five districts of Yogyakarta city and central Java and 0.05- 8.29 mSv in dwellings for five districts of Jenin province. Assessment of lung cancer risk using measured indoor radon levels have been calculated using UNSCEAR, USEPA risk factors and local occupancy factor. All the estimated effective doses are found to be less than the lower limit of the ICRP recommended action levels (3-10 mSv y-1) Except one houses in Jenin Province which measurement was 12.52 mSv. Conclusion: Conditional logistic Regression analysis were used to test whether or not exposure to radon was a significant cause of lung cancer in the population aged over 30yr, The radon concentration levels were found below the ICRP Recommendations in both studies exception in 12 percentage of the Palestinian dwellings, where the concentration was higher than ICRP recommendation.
