Radon and Skin Cancer — Yet Another Risk Factor for Squamous Cell Carcinoma?

Geographic areas with higher radon levels had higher squamous cell carcinoma rates.

Radon is an invisible gas that rises from uranium-emitting bedrock that releases radium-226. Radon is listed by the WHO as a significant risk factor for the development of lung cancer. Investigators analyzed skin cancer incidence in 287 postal code sectors in southwest England with statistics on radon emissions. Using household surveys, mean indoor radon concentrations for each postal-code sector from a national radon atlas, and cancer registries, the researchers compared rates of malignant melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma across mean indoor radon concentrations. Their analyses were adjusted for such potentially confounding factors as age, sex, socioeconomic status, and mean hours of bright sunshine.

They found no …

Reviewing Author

Jeffrey P. Callen, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board XOMA; Eli Lilly; Celgene

Equity Various trust accounts

Editorial boards JAMA Dermatology; UpToDate

Leadership positions in professional societies Association of Professors of Dermatology (President-Elect)