Toward a more realistic appraisal of the lung cancer risk from radon

The effects of residential mobility

Bibliographic Data

ID11034993
AuthorsKenneth E Warner (0000-0002-8214-1776), David Méndez (0000-0002-0294-5484), Paul N Courant
Year1996
Volume86
Issue9
Pages1222-1227
Publication date1996-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.86.9.1222
PMID8806372
OpenAlexW2065647125
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited3

OBJECTIVES: A consideration of the effects of residential mobility produces much more realistic estimates of typical individuals' radon exposures and mortality risks than those of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). METHODS: A model linking residential mobility, the distribution of radon in US homes, and lung cancer risk is used to simulate lifetime radon exposure, with and without mitigation of high-radon homes, for typical mobile individuals. Radon-related lung cancer mortality risks are then estimated for smokers and never-smokers. RESULTS: Most individuals residing in high-radon homes have equivalent lifelong radon exposures well below those they are currently experiencing. Consequently, actual lung cancer risks are generally well below those implied in the EPA's radon risk charts. For most people who mitigate high-radon homes, risk reduction is modest. CONCLUSIONS: Radon may indeed be responsible for as large a population risk of lung cancer as the EPA estimates. However, caution must be used in interpreting the EPA's risk assessment for individuals; in many cases, mitigation will have little effect on residents' health risks

Environmental health · Lung cancer · Population · Radon · Medicine · Oncology · Radioactive contamination and transfer · Radioactivity and Radon Measurements · Risk Perception and Management

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