Advances in Testing, Public Education and Mitigation of Radon to Prevent Lung Cancer
Abstract
The U.S. Surgeon General identified radon, a Group-A carcinogen, in indoor air as the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. It’s estimated that 1 out of every 15 homes has a radon level above the EPA action level of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). Radon in indoor air causes around 820 death per year in Georgia and 21,000 deaths per year in the U.S. Another, lesser understood route of exposure to radon is through household water, primarily when it is supplied by a private well. Around 750,000 families or 1.8 million people in rural Georgia rely on a private well. In an analysis of around 900 wells in Georgia, 19 percent had radon-in-water levels that exceeded the EPA’s proposed threshold of 4,000 pCi/L. In water, radon poses both inhalation and ingestion risks that can cause lung or stomach cancers. It is estimated that there are 168 deaths per year in the U.S. caused by high levels of radon-in-water. Eighty-nine percent of these deaths result from lung cancer and 11 percent from stomach cancer. To address this significant public health concern, we have been engaged in testing, education, and mitigation of radon in both indoor air and well water for many years with several remarkable accomplishments. This presentation highlights some significant advancements and lessons learned over the last 10 years in the following areas: 1) mapping of radon test results for Georgia in both indoor air and well water; 2) implementation of new programs and partnerships to increase testing, public awareness, and mitigation of radon; 3) development of a potential proficiency test for radon-in-water; and 4) onsite testing of a mitigation system for radon in well water.
Keywords
Carcinogen, Indoor-air, Lung-cancer, Mitigation, Public-awareness, Radon, Water
Advances in Testing, Public Education and Mitigation of Radon to Prevent Lung Cancer
The U.S. Surgeon General identified radon, a Group-A carcinogen, in indoor air as the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. It’s estimated that 1 out of every 15 homes has a radon level above the EPA action level of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). Radon in indoor air causes around 820 death per year in Georgia and 21,000 deaths per year in the U.S. Another, lesser understood route of exposure to radon is through household water, primarily when it is supplied by a private well. Around 750,000 families or 1.8 million people in rural Georgia rely on a private well. In an analysis of around 900 wells in Georgia, 19 percent had radon-in-water levels that exceeded the EPA’s proposed threshold of 4,000 pCi/L. In water, radon poses both inhalation and ingestion risks that can cause lung or stomach cancers. It is estimated that there are 168 deaths per year in the U.S. caused by high levels of radon-in-water. Eighty-nine percent of these deaths result from lung cancer and 11 percent from stomach cancer. To address this significant public health concern, we have been engaged in testing, education, and mitigation of radon in both indoor air and well water for many years with several remarkable accomplishments. This presentation highlights some significant advancements and lessons learned over the last 10 years in the following areas: 1) mapping of radon test results for Georgia in both indoor air and well water; 2) implementation of new programs and partnerships to increase testing, public awareness, and mitigation of radon; 3) development of a potential proficiency test for radon-in-water; and 4) onsite testing of a mitigation system for radon in well water.
