What are
the Health
Risks of Radon?
Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers -
killing over 20,000 Americans each year.
To
reduce the risk of lung cancer, the US EPA recommends taking corrective
action in every home with radon concentrations above the action level of
4 pCi/L (148 Bq/m3). Even if you don't smoke, but
you live in a 4 pCi/L (148 Bq/m3) home,
you have a long-range health risk equal to smoking half a pack
of cigarettes a day. If you do smoke and live in a 4 pCi/L (148 Bq/m3) home, the risk is 14 times greater.
One out of every 15 homes in the United States has radon concentrations above 4 pCi/L (148 Bq/m3). Most homes can have their radon
concentrations reduced to below 2 pCi/L (74 Bq/m3). Some states
mandate that new homes can be designed to prevent high radon concentrations.
In the United States, the outdoor radon level (0.4 pCi/L (15 Bq/m3)) is low. But, at the higher levels frequently found in homes, your risk is greater. Reducing radon levels inside buildings can greatly lower this risk. The US EPA recommends reducing radon levels in buildings to below 4 pCi/L (148 Bq/m3) to lower your risk of radon-induced
lung cancer.
If
you get radon-induced lung
cancer, your chance of surviving is
very low compared to other forms of cancer:
-
Your
chance of surviving breast cancer is 88%
-
Your
chance of surviving prostate cancer is 99%
-
Your
chance of surviving lung cancer is 15%
Your
chance of dying from lung cancer depends on the radon level
you are exposed to over your lifetime.
Radon
Level
[pCi/L]
(Bq/m3) |
Risk of Dying From
Lung Cancer |
What
to Do to Protect
Yourself
|
| Non-Smokers |
Smokers |
|
20 pCi/L
(740 Bq/m3) |
36 per 1000
|
260 per 1000 |
Have a radon mitigation system installed in your home.
Most homes can be mitigated for $800-$1500. |
10 pCi/L
(370 Bq/m3) |
18 per 1000
|
150 per 1000
|
8 pCi/L
(296 Bq/m3) |
15 per 1000
|
120 per 1000
|
4 pCi/L
(148 Bq/m3) |
7 per
1000
|
62 per
1000
|
2 pCi/L
(74 Bq/m3) |
4 per 1000
|
32 per 1000
|
Consider
mitigating homes with levels between 2-4 pCi/L (74-148 Bq/m3).
|
|
1.3 pCi/L
(48.1 Bq/m3)
U.S. indoor average
|
2 per 1000
|
20 per 1000
|
Reducing
radon levels below these levels can be difficult
|
|
0.4 pCi/L
(14.8 Bq/m3)
U.S.
outdoor average
|
< 1 per 1000
|
6 per 1000
|
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|
