Lesson 2

Why is radon a health problem?

Slide 4-2

Radon and lung cancer

• Annual deaths (1995) from lung cancer: 146,400

• Total radon-related deaths per year: 21,000 (14%)

• Average years of life lost for radon-related lung cancer: 17

Slide 4-3

How radon harms the lungs

• Radon decay products become trapped in the lungs

• As these products decay, some release alpha radiation

• Radiation damages lung tissue

Slide 4-4

Lung cancer: a deadly disease

• The leading cause of cancer death for men and women

• 6 out of 10 people with lung cancer die within 1 year of diagnosis

• 7-8 out of 10 die within 2 years of diagnosis

Cancer spreads from the lungs to other parts of the body

Slide 4-5

Cancer deaths from radon in tap water

Stomach cancer11%

Lung cancer89%

CauseSwallowing water that contains radon

CauseBreathing radon released by water—as in showering or washing dishes

Total168 cancer deaths per year related to radon in water

Slide 4-6

Relative risk:estimated deaths per year

21,00017,400

8,000

2,8003,900

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

Radon Drunkdriving

Falls in thehome

Drownings Home fires

Slide 4-7

Radon concentrations in the air

Picocuries/liter (pCi/L)

Average outdoor 0.4

Average indoor 1.3

Consider fixing the home

2-4

Action level: fix the home

4 or above

Slide 4-8

EPA estimates

Reducing radon in homes could reduce radon-related lung cancers by about 1/3

1 in 15 homes has a radon concentration at or above the action level of 4 pCi/L

Slide 4-9

Radon risk for people who never smoked

Radon level

(pCi/L)

If 1,000 nonsmokers were exposed to this radon level, the number who could get lung cancer

after lifetime exposure*

Lung cancer risk equal to**

20 36 35 times the risk of dying by drowning

10 18 20 times the risk of dying in a home fire

8 15 4 times the risk of dying in a fall

4 7 The risk of dying in a car crash

2 4 The risk of dying from poison

Slide 4-10

Radon risk for smokers

Radon level

(pCi/L)

If 1,000 smokers were exposed to this level, the number who could

get lung cancer after lifetime

exposure*

Lung cancer risk equal to**

20 260 250 times the risk of dying by drowning

10 150 200 times the risk of dying in a home fire

8 120 30 times the risk of dying in a fall

4 62 5 times the risk of dying in a car crash

2 32 6 times the risk of dying from poison

Slide 4-11

Radon risk comparison

Radon level (pCi/L)

People who never smoked

People who smoke

20 36 260

10 18 150

8 15 120

4 7 62

2 4 32

1.3 2 20

0.4  - 3

Estimated number of people who could get lung cancer

per 1,000 people exposed over a lifetime

Slide 4-12

Surgeon General’s National Health Advisory

“Indoor radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and breathing it over prolonged periods can present a significant health risk to families all over the country.

It’s important to know that this threat is completely preventable. Radon can be detected with a simple test and fixed through well-established venting techniques.”

– January 2005

Slide 4-13

Summary

Radon is known to cause lung cancer

Estimated radon-related deaths each year: 21,000

Reducing radon in homes could reduce radon-related lung cancers by about 1/3

EPA action level: 4pCi/L

When people breathe in radon and its decay products, radioactive particles get trapped in the lungs– As the particles decay,

they damage lung tissue

– With long-term exposure, damage increases risk of lung cancer

Slide 4-14

Summary

• Amount of radon in the home• Length of exposure• Smoking

– Smoking greatly increases the risk of developing lung cancer

Chances of developing lung cancer depend on