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Exposure to radon and heavy particulate pollution and incidence of brain tumors.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Palmer, JD; Prasad, RN; Cioffi, G; Kruchtko, C; Zaorsky, NG; Trifiletti, DM; Gondi, V; Brown, PD; Perlow, HK; Mishra, MV; Chakravarti, A ...
Published in: Neuro Oncol
February 14, 2023

BACKGROUND: Global incidence for brain tumors varies substantially without explanation. Studies correlating radon exposure and incidence are inconclusive. Particulate pollution has been linked to increased tumor incidence. Particulates may disrupt the blood-brain barrier allowing intracranial exposure to oncogenic radon. We investigated the relationship between exposure to residential radon, particulate pollution, and brain tumor incidence in the United States (US). METHODS: County-level median radon testing results and annual air quality index values were obtained and divided into tertiles. Counties without both values were excluded. Four groups of counties were generated: high particulate/high radon (high/high), high/low, low/high, and low/low. Using incidence data from the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the US (provided by CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries and NCI's SEER), annual age-adjusted incidence rates (AAAIRs) by group were generated by behavior. Incidence rate ratios were calculated to examine for significant differences (α = .05). Poisson regression accounting for possible confounders was conducted. RESULTS: Counties with available data included 83% of the US population. High/high exposure was significantly associated with increased AAAIR of all non-malignant tumors (up to 26% higher, including most meningiomas) even after accounting for potential confounders. An increased AAAIR was noted for all malignant tumors (up to 10% higher), including glioblastoma, but was negated after accounting for demographic/socioeconomic differences. CONCLUSIONS: We present the first report suggesting increased non-malignant brain tumor incidence in regions with high particulate and radon exposure. These findings provide insight into unexplained variation in tumor incidence. Future studies are needed to validate these findings in other populations.

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Published In

Neuro Oncol

DOI

EISSN

1523-5866

Publication Date

February 14, 2023

Volume

25

Issue

2

Start / End Page

407 / 417

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Registries
  • Radon
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Meningeal Neoplasms
  • Lung Neoplasms
  • Incidence
  • Humans
  • Brain Neoplasms
  • 3211 Oncology and carcinogenesis
 

Citation

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Palmer, J. D., Prasad, R. N., Cioffi, G., Kruchtko, C., Zaorsky, N. G., Trifiletti, D. M., … Ostrom, Q. T. (2023). Exposure to radon and heavy particulate pollution and incidence of brain tumors. Neuro Oncol, 25(2), 407–417. https://doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noac163
Palmer, Joshua D., Rahul N. Prasad, Gino Cioffi, Carol Kruchtko, Nicholas G. Zaorsky, Daniel M. Trifiletti, Vinai Gondi, et al. “Exposure to radon and heavy particulate pollution and incidence of brain tumors.Neuro Oncol 25, no. 2 (February 14, 2023): 407–17. https://doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noac163.
Palmer JD, Prasad RN, Cioffi G, Kruchtko C, Zaorsky NG, Trifiletti DM, et al. Exposure to radon and heavy particulate pollution and incidence of brain tumors. Neuro Oncol. 2023 Feb 14;25(2):407–17.
Palmer, Joshua D., et al. “Exposure to radon and heavy particulate pollution and incidence of brain tumors.Neuro Oncol, vol. 25, no. 2, Feb. 2023, pp. 407–17. Pubmed, doi:10.1093/neuonc/noac163.
Palmer JD, Prasad RN, Cioffi G, Kruchtko C, Zaorsky NG, Trifiletti DM, Gondi V, Brown PD, Perlow HK, Mishra MV, Chakravarti A, Barnholtz-Sloan JS, Ostrom QT. Exposure to radon and heavy particulate pollution and incidence of brain tumors. Neuro Oncol. 2023 Feb 14;25(2):407–417.
Journal cover image

Published In

Neuro Oncol

DOI

EISSN

1523-5866

Publication Date

February 14, 2023

Volume

25

Issue

2

Start / End Page

407 / 417

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Registries
  • Radon
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Meningeal Neoplasms
  • Lung Neoplasms
  • Incidence
  • Humans
  • Brain Neoplasms
  • 3211 Oncology and carcinogenesis