Groundwater radon exposure and risk of lung cancer: A population-based study in Finland

Radon exposure and cancer burden: A regional spatial analysis in Finland

This study investigates the regional disparities in the association between radon exposure and cancer burdens in Finland using spatial panel data analysis. We analyze data from 19 Finnish regions spanning the years 1990-2023, focusing on variations in radon concentrations and their association with regional cancer incidence and mortality rates. Our approach integrates both temporal and spatial dimensions, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of the relationship between radon exposure levels and cancer outcomes while accounting for regional heterogeneity and spatial dependencies. The results suggest a significant positive association between elevated radon exposure and increased cancer incidence and mortality, with notable regional differences in the strength of this effect. The findings have important implications for public health interventions and policies aimed at reducing radon exposure and mitigating its cancer-related risks in Finland and other radon-prone regions.

Radon exposure: a major cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers

Exposure to radon can impact human health. This is a nonsystematic review of articles written in English, Spanish, French, or Portuguese published in the last decade (2013-2023), using databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and SciELO. Search terms selected were radon, human health, respiratory diseases, children, and adults. After analyzing the titles and abstracts, the researchers initially identified 47 studies, which were subsequently reduced to 40 after excluding reviews, dissertations, theses, and case-control studies. The studies have shown that enclosed environments such as residences and workplaces have higher levels of radon than those outdoors. Moreover, radon is one of the leading causes of lung cancer, especially in nonsmokers. An association between exposure to radon and development of other lung diseases, such as asthma and COPD, was also observed. It is crucial to increase public awareness and implement governmental control measures to reduce radon exposure. It is essential to quantify radon levels in all types of buildings and train professionals to conduct such measurements according to proven efficacy standards. Health care professionals should also be informed about this threat and receive adequate training to deal with the effects of radon on human health.