Naturally occurring radioactive materials: A method for assessing the risk of exposure

Epidemiological studies on miners indicate an increased incidence of lung cancer from exposure to radon in mines with high radon concentrations (Roscoe et al., 1989). In Ontario uranium mines, miners mortality for lung cancer is significantly higher than expected for the population (observed = 152, expected = 67). The mortality from lung cancer is clearly associated with the exposure of workers to the descendants of shortlived radon (Kusiak et al., 1993).