Public Health Impact of Radon: Opportunities for Collaborative Outreach Programs
Abstract
Radon (222Rn86), a radioactive gas, that originates underground through radioactive decay of uranium and radium in rocks and minerals. Once formed, it can move upward and enter homes through cracks and holes in the foundation, accumulating in the indoor air. Breathing radon-rich indoor air is the second leading cause of lung cancer, resulting in around 21,000 deaths in the US and 820 deaths in Georgia annually. While there is no safe level of indoor radon, the US Surgeon General’s Health Advisory level is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L), which is the current action level (for mitigation) in the US. Approximately 1 in 15 homes have an indoor air radon concentration at or above 4 pCi/L, which is a significant public health concern. In some households, people may be exposed to radon through household water as well, primarily from the private wells. Around 1.8 million people in rural Georgia rely on private wells. An analysis of approximately 900 wells in Georgia found 19% had radon-in-water levels that exceeded the EPA’s proposed threshold of 4,000 pCi/L, requiring radon removing water treatment systems. In water, radon poses both inhalation and ingestion risks that can cause lung or stomach cancers. However, radon is a preventable public health concern. The best way to address radon is through collaborative outreach efforts, bringing together all potential stakeholders. This workshop will discuss the nature, extent, and public health impacts of radon based on 120,769 indoor air radon test results from Georgia between 1990-2022 and over 1200 well water test results. It will also apprise the advances made by the University of Georgia radon program during the last decade in testing, public education and mitigation. Most importantly, we will discuss the potential collaborative outreach opportunities with Georgia public health professionals and health care providers.
Keywords
Carcinogen, Indoor-air, Lung-cancer, Mitigation, Public-awareness, Radon, Water
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Public Health Impact of Radon: Opportunities for Collaborative Outreach Programs
Radon (222Rn86), a radioactive gas, that originates underground through radioactive decay of uranium and radium in rocks and minerals. Once formed, it can move upward and enter homes through cracks and holes in the foundation, accumulating in the indoor air. Breathing radon-rich indoor air is the second leading cause of lung cancer, resulting in around 21,000 deaths in the US and 820 deaths in Georgia annually. While there is no safe level of indoor radon, the US Surgeon General’s Health Advisory level is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L), which is the current action level (for mitigation) in the US. Approximately 1 in 15 homes have an indoor air radon concentration at or above 4 pCi/L, which is a significant public health concern. In some households, people may be exposed to radon through household water as well, primarily from the private wells. Around 1.8 million people in rural Georgia rely on private wells. An analysis of approximately 900 wells in Georgia found 19% had radon-in-water levels that exceeded the EPA’s proposed threshold of 4,000 pCi/L, requiring radon removing water treatment systems. In water, radon poses both inhalation and ingestion risks that can cause lung or stomach cancers. However, radon is a preventable public health concern. The best way to address radon is through collaborative outreach efforts, bringing together all potential stakeholders. This workshop will discuss the nature, extent, and public health impacts of radon based on 120,769 indoor air radon test results from Georgia between 1990-2022 and over 1200 well water test results. It will also apprise the advances made by the University of Georgia radon program during the last decade in testing, public education and mitigation. Most importantly, we will discuss the potential collaborative outreach opportunities with Georgia public health professionals and health care providers.
