Quantitative assessment of uranium and alpha-emitting radionuclides in lung cancer patients using CR-39 Detectors: Influence of gender and smoking behavior.

Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent and lethal malignancies worldwide, influenced by a combination of environmental and behavioral risk factors. Among these, exposure to alpha-emitting radionuclides-such as uranium and radon-has been recognized as a significant contributor, particularly when coupled with smoking. This study provides a radiological evaluation of uranium concentration and alpha particle emissions in the blood serum of lung cancer patients using CR-39 track detectors and the TASLIMAGE analysis system. A total of 65 lung cancer patients and 53 healthy controls were recruited from the Basra Center for Hematology and Oncology (BCHO). The radiological parameters measured included radon activity in ambient and biological samples, radium content, and uranium concentration. The results revealed statistically significant elevations (P < 0.05) in uranium concentration and alpha particle track density in the lung cancer group compared to controls. However, all measured values remained below international safety thresholds set by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In contrast, statistical analysis using SPSS (v20) showed that both the odds ratio (OR = 1.153) and relative risk (RR = 1.066) for smoking were above unity, indicating a strong correlation between smoking behavior and lung cancer incidence. This study is the first of its kind in southern Iraq to systematically assess the combined impact of internal alpha radiation exposure, gender differences, and smoking habits on lung cancer risk, using track detector-based dosimetry. The findings highlight the utility of alpha track detection in biomedical applications and support the dominant role of lifestyle over radiological factors in this population.