1. Radon Gas: Indoor Air Quality Carolina Mann Main Public Health & Social Justice PHE 510 12/2/08

2. Background Info Radon is formed from the decay of Uranium. It is found in ground water and indoor air Radon is a radioactive gas that is odorless, invisible, and tasteless. You are at risk when your home measures at more than 4 pCi/L. USGS, US Geological Survey 6/21/20001. www.usgs.gov/newsroom. retrieved 11/6/2008www.usgs.gov/newsroom

3. Whos at Risk? Energy Efficient Homes Homes with basements Homes with cracked foundations Buildings with poor ventilation Homes with poor insulation

4. Worldwide Sweden China Spain W. Germany Netherlands United States To name a few countries.

5. Risk Radon exposure is second leading cause of lung cancer Second to smoking Smokers and ex-smokers are at 5 times greater risk than life-long non-smokers Connection made from studying miners Length of time of exposure Diagnosed through CT scans

6. Regulations The US government does not have any regulations regarding private residence radon exposure No regulations for public indoor air quality Policies are piecemealed together based on complaints

7. WHO Radon Meeting March 2008 Working on international framework to guide governments in creating regulations on construction and existing construction Looking @ measurements to be taken when buying and selling homes

8. Local Risk SW Portland – West Hills Alameda Ridge North Portland Northeast Portland Columbia River Some Southeast Portland areas I, Cacophony, the copyright holder of this workCacophony

9. Bibliography No Author. (2008, November 10). Radon: a silent killer you can escape. KOIN Local 6. Retrieved November 16, 2008 http://www.koinlocal6.com/content/news/topstories/story.asp x?content_id=1f5e4567-2b3c-4610-a6ad-bd8d0d6880cc http://www.koinlocal6.com/content/news/topstories/story.asp x?content_id=1f5e4567-2b3c-4610-a6ad-bd8d0d6880cc Pershagen, G, Akerblom, G, Axelson, O., et. Al. (1994). Residential Radon Exposure and Lung Cancer in Sweden. The New England Journal of Medicine, 3(330),159-164. Spengler, J.D and Sexton, K. (1983). Indoor Air Pollutions: A Public Health Perspective. Science, New Series,221(4605),9-17. World Health Organization. (2007). WHO International Radon Project Report of the Third Meeting (1st ed.). Munich, Germany: Edited by Hajo Zeeb.