Increased risk of skin cancer due to radon

Swiss study: Radon increases the risk of skin cancer
Radon is naturally part of the atmosphere in small amounts, but it may be locally limited even in higher concentrations if the radioactive chemical element is released from the rock or soil on site. For health, exposure to radon is a risk that should not be underestimated. For example, it has already been known that this increases lung cancer risk, for example. Scientists from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) have now shown that the radioactive gas also increases the risk of developing malignant skin cancer.

According to the research team headed by Professor Martin Röösli of the Swiss TPH, the study on domestic radon exposure in Switzerland shows that the natural radioactive gas radon in one's own home also increases the risk of malignant melanoma (malignant skin cancer). So far only a connection with an increased lung cancer risk was known. The researchers published their study results in the journal "Environmental Health Perspectives".

Domestic radon exposure has a significant influence on the risk of skin cancer. (Image: Dan Race / fotolia.com)

1,900 skin cancer deaths were investigated
In their study, the scientists investigated the effects of radon and UV exposure on mortality from malignant skin cancer in Switzerland. A total of 1,900 skin cancer deaths were reported between 2000 and 2008 in persons over the age of 20 throughout Switzerland. The scientists calculated the household radon load based on the data from around 45,000 measurements by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health taking into account the characteristics of the building and the geological conditions in the residential area, according to the Swiss TPH.

Skin cancer risk increased by 50 percent in 30-year-olds
According to the researchers, the relative risk of skin cancer in the 30-year-olds increased by around 50 percent per 100 Bq / mᵌ increase in radon exposure, and in the 60-year-olds an increase of 16 percent occurred with the same burden. "The younger the person, the greater the impact of radon on the disease risk," says Professor Röösli. The current study shows "that radioactive alpha particles can damage not only the lung tissue but also the skin when radon decays." This has hardly been investigated so far.

Proper construction can reduce the domestic burden
"How strong the indoor radon load is depends on the geological nature of the environment and how well a house is sealed off from the ground," reports the Swiss TPH. Radon is naturally formed in the rock and in the ground. The association with malignant skin cancers is of particular interest to Switzerland, as more radon is released in some regions and Switzerland has the third highest rate of malignant skin cancer worldwide. This puts Switzerland far above the Central European average, emphasize the scientists. The incidence of malignant skin cancer has more than doubled in the last 20 years. With suitable construction, however, the radon pollution in one's own four walls can be greatly reduced. (Fp)