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Little MP, Wakeford R, Zablotska LB, Borrego D, Griffin KT, Allodji RS, de Vathaire F, Lee C, Brenner AV, Miller JS, Campbell D, Pearce MS, Sadetzki S, Doody MM, Holmberg E, Lundell M, French B, Adams MJ, Berrington de González A, Linet MS. Radiation exposure and leukaemia risk among cohorts of persons exposed to low and moderate doses of external ionising radiation in childhood. Br J Cancer 2023; 129:1152-1165. [PMID: 37596407 PMCID: PMC10539334 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02387-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many high-dose groups demonstrate increased leukaemia risks, with risk greatest following childhood exposure; risks at low/moderate doses are less clear. METHODS We conducted a pooled analysis of the major radiation-associated leukaemias (acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) with/without the inclusion of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)) in ten childhood-exposed groups, including Japanese atomic bomb survivors, four therapeutically irradiated and five diagnostically exposed cohorts, a mixture of incidence and mortality data. Relative/absolute risk Poisson regression models were fitted. RESULTS Of 365 cases/deaths of leukaemias excluding chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, there were 272 AML/CML/ALL among 310,905 persons (7,641,362 person-years), with mean active bone marrow (ABM) dose of 0.11 Gy (range 0-5.95). We estimated significant (P < 0.005) linear excess relative risks/Gy (ERR/Gy) for: AML (n = 140) = 1.48 (95% CI 0.59-2.85), CML (n = 61) = 1.77 (95% CI 0.38-4.50), and ALL (n = 71) = 6.65 (95% CI 2.79-14.83). There is upward curvature in the dose response for ALL and AML over the full dose range, although at lower doses (<0.5 Gy) curvature for ALL is downwards. DISCUSSION We found increased ERR/Gy for all major types of radiation-associated leukaemia after childhood exposure to ABM doses that were predominantly (for 99%) <1 Gy, and consistent with our prior analysis focusing on <100 mGy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P Little
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA.
| | - Richard Wakeford
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Ellen Wilkinson Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Lydia B Zablotska
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 550 16th Street, 2nd floor, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - David Borrego
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA
| | - Keith T Griffin
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA
| | - Rodrigue S Allodji
- Equipe d'Epidémiologie des radiations, Unité 1018 INSERM, Bâtiment B2M, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, Cedex, 94805, France
| | - Florent de Vathaire
- Equipe d'Epidémiologie des radiations, Unité 1018 INSERM, Bâtiment B2M, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, Cedex, 94805, France
| | - Choonsik Lee
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA
| | - Alina V Brenner
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA
| | - Jeremy S Miller
- Information Management Services, Silver Spring, MD, 20904, USA
| | - David Campbell
- Information Management Services, Silver Spring, MD, 20904, USA
| | - Mark S Pearce
- Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Sir James Spence Institute, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in chemical and radiation threats and hazards, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Siegal Sadetzki
- Israel Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
- Cancer & Radiation Epidemiology Unit, Gertner Institute for Epidemiology & Health Policy Research, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel & Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
| | - Michele M Doody
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA
| | - Erik Holmberg
- Department of Oncology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, S-413-45, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Marie Lundell
- Department of Medical Radiation Physics and Nuclear Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, S-17176, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Benjamin French
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Michael Jacob Adams
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 265 Crittenden Boulevard, CU 420644, Rochester, NY, 14642-0644, USA
| | - Amy Berrington de González
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA
- Division of Genetics and Epidemiology, Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Martha S Linet
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-9778, USA
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Folesani G, Galetti M, Ranzieri S, Petronini PG, La Monica S, Corradi M, Cavallo D. Interaction between occupational radon exposure and tobacco smoke: a systematic review. Expert Rev Respir Med 2022; 16:787-800. [PMID: 35912519 DOI: 10.1080/17476348.2022.2108795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION : The risk of lung cancer from radon exposure was small compared to tobacco smoking (BEIR VI), but the relationship between these two carcinogenic agents has yet to be quantitatively estimated. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the last evidences on the role of radon occupational exposures and tobacco smoke on lung cancer risk. AREAS COVERED : Thirteen articles were selected using two different databases, PubMed and Scifinder, and were limited to those published from 2010 to 2021. The reference list of selected studies was reviewed to identify other relevant papers. EXPERT OPINION : Seven papers included in this systematic review did not deal with the multiplicative or the additive type of interaction between radon exposure and smoking habit. Six papers discussed the nature of this interaction with a prevalence of the sub-multiplicative model compared to the additive one. Altogether, smoking adjustment did not change significantly lung cancer risk. The included studies might constitute a starting point for updating the models for risk assessment in occupational and residential scenarios, promoting concomitantly the exposure reduction to radon and other cofactors, as recently introduced by Italian Legislative Decree number 101 of 31 July 2020, an application of Euratom Directive 59/2013.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina Folesani
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL - Italian Workers' Compensation Authority, Via Fontana Candida 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy
| | - Maricla Galetti
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL - Italian Workers' Compensation Authority, Via Fontana Candida 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Ranzieri
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Viale Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Pier Giorgio Petronini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Viale Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Silvia La Monica
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Viale Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Massimo Corradi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Viale Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy.,Center of Excellence for Toxicological Research (CERT) at University of Parma, Viale Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Delia Cavallo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL - Italian Workers' Compensation Authority, Via Fontana Candida 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy
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Little MP, Wakeford R, Bouffler SD, Abalo K, Hauptmann M, Hamada N, Kendall GM. Review of the risk of cancer following low and moderate doses of sparsely ionising radiation received in early life in groups with individually estimated doses. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 159:106983. [PMID: 34959181 PMCID: PMC9118883 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The detrimental health effects associated with the receipt of moderate (0.1-1 Gy) and high (>1 Gy) acute doses of sparsely ionising radiation are well established from human epidemiological studies. There is accumulating direct evidence of excess risk of cancer in a number of populations exposed at lower acute doses or doses received over a protracted period. There is evidence that relative risks are generally higher after radiation exposures in utero or in childhood. METHODS AND FINDINGS We reviewed and summarised evidence from 60 studies of cancer or benign neoplasms following low- or moderate-level exposure in utero or in childhood from medical and environmental sources. In most of the populations studied the exposure was predominantly to sparsely ionising radiation, such as X-rays and gamma-rays. There were significant (p < 0.001) excess risks for all cancers, and particularly large excess relative risks were observed for brain/CNS tumours, thyroid cancer (including nodules) and leukaemia. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the totality of this large body of data relating to in utero and childhood exposure provides support for the existence of excess cancer and benign neoplasm risk associated with radiation doses < 0.1 Gy, and for certain groups exposed to natural background radiation, to fallout and medical X-rays in utero, at about 0.02 Gy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P Little
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892-9778, USA.
| | - Richard Wakeford
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Ellen Wilkinson Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Simon D Bouffler
- Radiation Effects Department, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Chilton, Didcot OX11 0RQ, UK
| | - Kossi Abalo
- Laboratoire d'Épidémiologie, Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, BP 17, 92262 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France
| | - Michael Hauptmann
- Institute of Biostatistics and Registry Research, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Fehrbelliner Strasse 38, 16816 Neuruppin, Germany
| | - Nobuyuki Hamada
- Radiation Safety Unit, Biology and Environmental Chemistry Division, Sustainable System Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), 2-11-1 Iwado-kita, Komae, Tokyo 201-8511, Japan
| | - Gerald M Kendall
- Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Oxford Population Health, University of Oxford, Richard Doll Building, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
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Rühm W, Laurier D, Wakeford R. Cancer risk following low doses of ionising radiation - Current epidemiological evidence and implications for radiological protection. MUTATION RESEARCH. GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS 2022; 873:503436. [PMID: 35094811 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2021.503436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that every year worldwide about a million patients might be exposed to doses of the order of 100 mGy of low-LET radiation, due to recurrent application of radioimaging procedures. This paper presents a synthesis of recent epidemiological evidence on radiation-related cancer risks from low-LET radiation doses of this magnitude. Evidence from pooled analyses and meta-analyses also involving epidemiological studies that, individually, do not find statistically significant radiation-related cancer risks is reviewed, and evidence from additional and more recent epidemiological studies of radiation exposures indicating excess cancer risks is also summarized. Cohorts discussed in the present paper include Japanese atomic bomb survivors, nuclear workers, patients exposed for medical purposes, and populations exposed environmentally to natural background radiation or radioactive contamination. Taken together, the overall evidence summarized here is based on studies including several million individuals, many of them followed-up for more than half a century. In summary, substantial evidence was found from epidemiological studies of exposed groups of humans that ionizing radiation causes cancer at acute and protracted doses above 100 mGy, and growing evidence for doses below 100 mGy. The significant radiation-related solid cancer risks observed at doses of several 100 mGy of protracted exposures (observed, for example, among nuclear workers) demonstrate that doses accumulated over many years at low dose rates do cause stochastic health effects. On this basis, it can be concluded that doses of the order of 100 mGy from recurrent application of medical imaging procedures involving ionizing radiation are of concern, from the viewpoint of radiological protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Rühm
- Helmholtz Center Munich German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - D Laurier
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - R Wakeford
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
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Schmidt JA, Hornhardt S, Erdmann F, Sánchez-García I, Fischer U, Schüz J, Ziegelberger G. Risk Factors for Childhood Leukemia: Radiation and Beyond. Front Public Health 2021; 9:805757. [PMID: 35004601 PMCID: PMC8739478 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.805757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Childhood leukemia (CL) is undoubtedly caused by a multifactorial process with genetic as well as environmental factors playing a role. But in spite of several efforts in a variety of scientific fields, the causes of the disease and the interplay of possible risk factors are still poorly understood. To push forward the research on the causes of CL, the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection has been organizing recurring international workshops since 2008 every two to three years. In November 2019 the 6th International Workshop on the Causes of CL was held in Freising and brought together experts from diverse disciplines. The workshop was divided into two main parts focusing on genetic and environmental risk factors, respectively. Two additional special sessions addressed the influence of natural background radiation on the risk of CL and the progress in the development of mouse models used for experimental studies on acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common form of leukemia worldwide. The workshop presentations highlighted the role of infections as environmental risk factor for CL, specifically for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Major support comes from two mouse models, the Pax5+/- and Sca1-ETV6-RUNX1 mouse model, one of the major achievements made in the last years. Mice of both predisposed models only develop leukemia when exposed to common infections. These results emphasize the impact of gene-environment-interactions on the development of CL and warrant further investigation of such interactions - especially because genetic predisposition is detected with increasing frequency in CL. This article summarizes the workshop presentations and discusses the results in the context of the international literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine-Alison Schmidt
- Department of Effects and Risks of Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation, Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Sabine Hornhardt
- Department of Effects and Risks of Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation, Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Friederike Erdmann
- Division of Childhood Cancer Epidemiology, Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization (IARC/WHO), Lyon, France
| | - Isidro Sánchez-García
- Experimental Therapeutics and Translational Oncology Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Ute Fischer
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Joachim Schüz
- Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization (IARC/WHO), Lyon, France
| | - Gunde Ziegelberger
- Department of Effects and Risks of Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation, Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), Neuherberg, Germany
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