Racial disparities in pancreatic cancer and radon exposure: A correlation study

OBJECTIVES: To correlate radon exposure with the incidence of pancreatic cancer (PC) and to ascertain the influence of race in this correlation. METHODS: Age-standardized incidence rates (SIRs) of PC from 1992 to2002, segregated by race, were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. The mean radon levels for each county were obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency map, which assigns each county to 1 of 3 categories based on radon potential. Aggregate radon exposure was correlated to the aggregate SIRs of PC. RESULTS: The SIRs of PC in the United States ranged from 1.4 to 21.8/100,000 person-years. The highest rates for whites (19.6/100,000 person-years) and American Indians (594/100,000 person-years) were found in Guadalupe County, New Mexico; for African Americans (4845/100,000 person-years) in Worth County, Iowa; and for Asian Americans (3177/100,000 person-years) in Monroe County, Iowa. There was an insignificant correlation between radon exposure and overall incidence of PC (r = 0.042). A significant correlation existed between radon exposure and incidence of PC in African Americans, American Indians, and Asian Americans, but not in whites. CONCLUSIONS: Radon exposure may be a significant risk factor for PC in African Americans, American Indians, and Asian Americans. Testing and mitigating homes for indoor radon may decrease PC incidence in these groups.