Findings seen even for exposure below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Exposure to radon levels, even below current recommended levels, heightens the risk for childhood leukemia, according to a study published in the December 2024 issue of Science of the Total Environment<\/em>.<\/p>\n Matthew Bozigar, from Oregon State University in Corvallis, and colleagues investigated the association between domestic radon exposure and childhood cancer risk in 727 U.S. counties (14 states; 41,599 people aged 0 to 19 years). <\/p>\n The researchers found that results from fully adjusted spatiotemporal statistical models showed a higher risk for leukemia (relative risks [RRs], 1.05; 95 percent credible interval [CrI], 1.00 to 1.09) among both sexes and males (RR, 1.06; 95 percent CrI, 1.00 to 1.12) from a 50 Bq\/m3<\/sup> (1.35 pCi\/L) increase in radon concentration the year prior. Risk was higher for both sexes (RR, 1.08) and females (RR, 1.12) for radon exposures \u226574 Bq\/m3<\/sup> (2.00 pCi\/L) the year prior. There were no associations for other cancer sites from prior year radon exposures.<\/p>\n \u201cCounty-level childhood leukemia risk in both sexes was associated with average radon levels below U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines recommending mitigation (148 Bq\/m3 or 4.00 pCi\/L),\u201d the authors write.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n