Annual Meeting of the NCI Cohort Consortium (Abstract Submission): Submission #6
Submission information
Submission Number: 6
Submission ID: 186379
Submission UUID: a6a0ad83-5944-4be6-963b-7c5d5b954ba1
Submission URI: /egrp/cohortconsortium/abstracts
Submission Update: /egrp/cohortconsortium/abstracts?token=U_boi1Wpk_G5G6Fc2jVF0wAmhGB0KM-mFtpWlBzGnsA
Created: Mon, 07/13/2026 - 11:02
Completed: Mon, 07/13/2026 - 11:28
Changed: Mon, 07/13/2026 - 11:28
Remote IP address: 10.208.24.73
Submitted by: Anonymous
Language: English
Is draft: No
Webform: Cohort Abstract
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Abstract Information
Radon and uranium particulate exposure to a community population and incidence of lung cancer.
Background: All uranium isotopes emit or decay to emit alpha, beta and gamma radiation capable of initiating carcinogenesis through DNA damage and epigenetic changes of oncogenes or tumor-suppressor genes. We tested the hypothesis that exposures to outdoor radon and uranium particles are associated with increased risk of lung cancer.
Between 1951 and 1989, a uranium refinery located in Fernald, Ohio converted uranium feed materials (ores and recycled materials) into uranium metal while releasing over 310,000 kg of airborne uranium dust into the atmosphere. During most years of operation, the FMPC had two “K-65” silos that contained K-65 raffinate from the chemical digestion process, containing radium and uranium that emitted radon into the surrounding area.
Methods: The Fernald Community Cohort (FCC) is a longitudinal prospective study of 9,782 community members who lived within 5 miles of the FMPC for at least 2 years, between 1952 and 1984. During a follow-up of >30 years, incident lung cancers have been ascertained by self-report verified through medical records, death certificates, and/or state cancer registries. Exposures to outdoor radon and uranium particulates were estimated using an algorithm developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) using address history over the years of production.
In Cox proportional regression, those in the highest uranium exposure group were 13% (HR: 1.132,95% CI: 1.037-1.235) and those in the highest radon exposure group 12% (HR: 1.117, 95% CI: 0.995-1.255) more likely to develop incident lung cancer higher lung cancer incidence, after adjusting for age, sex, income, education level, family history of lung cancer and pack-years of cigarette smoking,
Conclusions: Given the burden of lung cancer and the many people living near hazardous waste sites containing radioactive materials, NORM industries and mining sites, most of whom are underserved rural populations, our results have public health significance.
Between 1951 and 1989, a uranium refinery located in Fernald, Ohio converted uranium feed materials (ores and recycled materials) into uranium metal while releasing over 310,000 kg of airborne uranium dust into the atmosphere. During most years of operation, the FMPC had two “K-65” silos that contained K-65 raffinate from the chemical digestion process, containing radium and uranium that emitted radon into the surrounding area.
Methods: The Fernald Community Cohort (FCC) is a longitudinal prospective study of 9,782 community members who lived within 5 miles of the FMPC for at least 2 years, between 1952 and 1984. During a follow-up of >30 years, incident lung cancers have been ascertained by self-report verified through medical records, death certificates, and/or state cancer registries. Exposures to outdoor radon and uranium particulates were estimated using an algorithm developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) using address history over the years of production.
In Cox proportional regression, those in the highest uranium exposure group were 13% (HR: 1.132,95% CI: 1.037-1.235) and those in the highest radon exposure group 12% (HR: 1.117, 95% CI: 0.995-1.255) more likely to develop incident lung cancer higher lung cancer incidence, after adjusting for age, sex, income, education level, family history of lung cancer and pack-years of cigarette smoking,
Conclusions: Given the burden of lung cancer and the many people living near hazardous waste sites containing radioactive materials, NORM industries and mining sites, most of whom are underserved rural populations, our results have public health significance.