Risk coefficient of radon-induced lung cancer and combined effect of arsenic in miners of Yunnan tin mine of China

Objective: To identify the suitability of excess relative risk (ERR) coefficient of radon-induced miner lung cancer proposed by NIH Publication (1994) which was based on the data of Yunnan tin miners. Methods: Using the collected materials of epidemiology, underground ventilation, radon progeny monitoring and environmental arsenic pollution, the problems in the process of estimation of cumulative exposure of radon progeny and adjustment of combined effect of arsenic exposure for Yunan tin miners by NIH Publication were analyzed. Results: Because of overestimation of the time of underground d working and actual exposure to radon progeny for previous Yunnan tin miners by NIH, the resultant ERR coefficient of radon induced lung cancer was underestimated. The relative risks of different radon-arsenic exposure groups were used by NIH to adjust the combined effect of arsenic without considering the difference of environmental pollution in miner and control groups; that was the another reason for the decrease of ERR coefficient. Conclusion: The ERR coefficient of radon-induced lung cancer was probably underestimated for Chinese miners by NIH Publication; therefore it is unsuitable to be used in the risk projection and risk management for radon-induced lung cancer in China. It may be premature to use the Yunnan tin miner data as the value for Chinese miners in the combined analysis of world miner studies