 Why
is radon the public health risk that it is? EPA estimates that
about 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S. are
radon-related. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of
lung cancer after smoking. Radon is an odorless, tasteless and
invisible gas produced by the decay of naturally occurring
uranium in soil and water. Radon is a form of ionizing
radiation and a proven carcinogen. Lung cancer is the only
known effect on human health from exposure to radon in air.
Thus far, there is no evidence that children are at greater risk
of lung cancer than are adults.Radon in air is ubiquitous.
Radon is found in outdoor air and in the indoor air of buildings
of all kinds. EPA recommends homes be fixed if the radon level
is 4 pCi/L (pico Curies per Liter) or more. Because there is no
known safe level of exposure to radon, EPA also recommends that
Americans consider fixing their home for radon levels between 2
pCi/L and 4 pCi/L. The average radon concentration in the indoor
air of America’s homes is about 1.3 pCi/L. It is upon this level
that EPA based its estimate of 20,000 radon-related lung cancers
a year upon. It is for this simple reason that EPA recommends
that Americans consider fixing their homes when the radon level
is between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L. The average concentration of
radon in outdoor air is .4 pCi/L or 1/10th of EPA’s 4
pCi/L action level.
For smokers the risk of lung cancer is significant due to the
synergistic effects of radon and smoking. For this population
about 62 people in a 1,000 will die of lung-cancer, compared to
7.3 people in a 1,000 for never smokers. Put another way, a
person who never smoked (never smoker) who is exposed to 1.3 pCi/L
has a 2 in 1,000 chance of lung cancer; while a smoker has a 20
in 1,000 chance of dying from lung cancer. Figure A compares the
risks between smokers and never smokers; smokers are at a much
higher risk than never smokers, e.g., at 8 pCi/L the risk to
smokers is six times the risk to never smokers.
The radon health risk is underscored by the fact that in 1988
Congress added Title III on Indoor Radon Abatement to the Toxic
Substances Control Act. It codified and funded EPA’s then
fledgling radon program. Also that year, the Office of the U.S.
Surgeon General issued a warning about radon urging Americans to
test their homes and to reduce the radon level when necessary
(U.S. Surgeon General).
Unfortunately, many Americans presume that because the action
level is 4 pCi/L, a radon level of less than 4 pCi/L is ‘safe’.
This perception is altogether too common in the residential real
estate market. In managing any risk, we should be concerned with
the greatest risk. For most Americans, their greatest exposure
to radon is in their homes; especially in rooms that are below
grade (e.g., basements), rooms that are in contact with the
ground and those rooms immediately above them.
It's never too late to reduce your risk of lung
cancer. Don't wait to test and fix a radon problem. If
you are a smoker, stop smoking. Consider quitting. Until
you can quit, smoke outside and provide your family with a
smoke-free home (www.epa.gov/smokefree).
Take the Smoke-free
Home Pledge today!
Radon Risk If You Smoke
|
Radon Level |
If 1,000
people who smoked were exposed to
this level over a lifetime*... |
The risk of
cancer from radon exposure compares
to**... |
WHAT TO DO:
Stop smoking and... |
| 20 pCi/L |
About 260 people could get lung
cancer |
250 times the risk of drowning |
Fix your home |
| 10 pCi/L |
About 150 people could get lung
cancer |
200 times the risk of dying in a
home fire |
Fix your home |
| 8 pCi/L |
About 120 people could get lung
cancer |
30 times the risk of dying in a
fall |
Fix your home |
| 4 pCi/L |
About 62 people could get lung
cancer |
5 times the risk of dying in a
car crash |
Fix your home |
| 2 pCi/L |
About 32 people could get lung
cancer |
6 times the risk of dying from
poison |
Consider fixing between 2 and 4
pCi/L |
| 1.3 pCi/L |
About 20 people could get lung
cancer |
(Average indoor radon level) |
(Reducing radon
evels below 2 pCi/L is difficult.) |
| 0.4 pCi/L |
About 3 people could get lung
cancer |
(Average outdoor radon level) |
Note: If you are a
former smoker, your risk may be
lower.
* Lifetime risk of lung cancer
deaths from EPA Assessment of Risks
from Radon in Homes (EPA
402-R-03-003).
** Comparison data calculated using
the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention's 1999-2001 National
Center for Injury Prevention and
Control Reports. |
Radon Risk If You've Never
Smoked
|
Radon Level |
If 1,000
people who never smoked were exposed
to this level over a lifetime*... |
The risk of
cancer from radon exposure compares
to**... |
WHAT TO DO: |
| 20 pCi/L |
About 36 people could get lung
cancer |
35 times the risk of drowning |
Fix your home |
| 10 pCi/L |
About 18 people could get lung
cancer |
20 times the risk of dying in a
home fire |
Fix your home |
| 8 pCi/L |
About 15 people could get lung
cancer |
4 times the risk of dying in a
fall |
Fix your home |
| 4 pCi/L |
About 7 people could get lung
cancer |
The risk of dying in a car crash |
Fix your home |
| 2 pCi/L |
About 4 person could get lung
cancer |
The risk of dying from poison |
Consider fixing between 2 and 4
pCi/L |
| 1.3 pCi/L |
About 2 people could get lung
cancer |
(Average indoor radon level) |
(Reducing radon
levels below
2 pCi/L is difficult.) |
| 0.4 pCi/L |
|
(Average outdoor radon level) |
Note: If you are a
former smoker, your risk may be
higher.
* Lifetime risk of lung cancer
deaths from EPA Assessment of Risks
from Radon in Homes (EPA
402-R-03-003).
** Comparison data calculated using
the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention's 1999-2001 National
Center for Injury Prevention and
Control Reports. |
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