Radiation and cancer risk: a continuing challenge for epidemiologists

Abstract

This paper provides a perspective on epidemiological research on radiation and cancer, a field that has evolved over its six decade history. The review covers the current framework for assessing radiation risk and persistent questions about the details of these risks: is there a threshold and more generally, what is the shape of the dose-response relationship? How do risks vary over time and with age? What factors modify the risk of radiation? The example of radon progeny and lung cancer is considered as a case study, illustrating the modeling of epidemiological data to derive quantitative models and the coherence of the epidemiological and biological evidence. Finally, the manuscript considers the need for ongoing research, even in the face of research over a 60-year span.

Figure 1

Evidence-based radiation protection

Figure 2

Increase in lung cancer risk per 100 Bq m^-3 increase in measured radon concentration in 13 European case-control studies Source: Darby et al. 2005 [28]