1. Lesson 2 Why is radon a health problem?

2. Slide 2-1 Radon and lung cancer Radon is largest source of radiation exposure to general public Radon is leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers –Only cigarette smoking causes more deaths from lung cancer –Radon causes more deaths than secondhand smoke Reducing radon in homes could reduce radon-related lung cancers by about 1/3 –Home inspectors can help when they measure radon levels accurately

3. Slide 2-2 What do you hear people say about radon? Radon can’t really hurt you. The only problem is those government alarmists, who are always trying to scare us about some environmental hazard. There’s really nothing to worry about. Have you heard statements like this? Do you agree with this statement?

4. Slide 2-3 The facts about radon Respected national and international organizations agree that radon causes lung cancer All radon studies confirm the connection between radon exposure and lung cancer American Lung Association American Medical Association American Public Health Association National Academy of Sciences U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention U.S. Environmental Protection Agency World Health Organization

5. Slide 2-4 Can you fill in the numbers? Annual deaths (1995) from lung cancer: ??? Total radon-related deaths per year: ??? Average years of life lost for radon-related lung cancer: ???

6. Slide 2-5 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

7. Slide 2-6 How radon harms the lungs Radon gas is inhaled Radon decay products become trapped in the lungs As products decay, some release alpha radiation Radiation damages lung tissue Even very small exposures to radon can cause lung cancer –No known safe level of radon Radon causes no immediate symptoms –Lung cancer usually occurs 5 to 25 years after exposure Cancer cells spread to other parts of the body

8. Slide 2-7 Lung cancer is deadly 60% of people with lung cancer die within 1 year of diagnosis 70-80% die within 2 years of diagnosis The leading cause of cancer death for men and women –Kills more people than colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined

9. Slide 2-8 Radon and other health concerns No evidence that radon causes other respiratory diseases, such as asthma No evidence that children are at greater risk of radon-induced lung cancer than adults

10. Slide 2-9 Cancer deaths from radon in tap water Stomach cancer from swallowing water that contains radon accounts for 11% of those deaths Lung cancer from breathing radon released by water—as in showering or washing dishes— accounts for 89% of those deaths Total 168 cancer deaths per year related to radon in water

11. Slide 2-10 Match cause with estimated deaths per year Cause Drownings Drunk driving Falls in the home Home fires Radon

12. Slide 2-11 Relative risk: estimated deaths per year

13. Slide 2-12 Risk factors Duration of exposure Longer exposure time = greater risk Levels of radon Higher levels = greater risk Smoking In combination with radon exposure = greater risk DANGER Lungs at work

14. Slide 2-13 Radon concentrations in the air Picocuries/liter (pCi/L) Average outdoor0.4 Average indoor1.3 Consider fixing the home2-under 4 Action level: fix the home 4 or above Action level is based on level that can be achieved technically. It is not based on health standards. No known level of radon is safe.

15. Slide 2-14 How common are high radon levels? EPA estimates that 1 in 15 U.S. homes has a radon concentration at or above the action level of 4 pCi/L Recall: EPA also estimates that reducing radon in homes could reduce radon- related lung cancers by about one-third

16. Slide 2-15 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** 203635 times the risk of dying by drowning 101820 times the risk of dying in a home fire 8154 times the risk of dying in a fall 47The risk of dying in a car crash 24The risk of dying from poison

17. Slide 2-16 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** 20260250 times the risk of dying by drowning 10150200 times the risk of dying in a home fire 812030 times the risk of dying in a fall 4625 times the risk of dying in a car crash 2326 times the risk of dying from poison

18. Slide 2-17 Radon risk comparison Radon level (pCi/L) People who never smoked People who smoke 2036260 1018150 815120 4762 2432 1.3220 0.4 -3 Estimated number of people who could get lung cancer per 1,000 people exposed over a lifetime See handout 2-1

19. Slide 2-18 National Health Advisory 2005 “Indoor radon is the second- leading cause of lung cancer in the United States … 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.” Richard Carmona U.S. Surgeon General

20. Slide 2-19 Role play activity Two characters –Home inspector –Client Action –Home inspector is trying to persuade a client to have a home tested –Client is reluctant –Home inspector emphasizes health issues

21. Slide 2-20 After the activity Inspector –What arguments did you use to convince the client to have home tested? –Could you have been more persuasive? If so, how? Client –Did the inspector convince you? Why or why not? –Could the inspector have been more persuasive? If so, how?

22. Slide 2-21 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: 4 pCi/L When people breathe in radon and its decay products, radioactive particles get trapped in the lungs –As particles decay, they damage lung tissue –With long-term exposure, damage increases risk of lung cancer

23. Slide 2-22 Summary Chances of developing lung cancer depend on Duration of exposure Level of radon in the home Smoking –Greatly increases the risk of developing lung cancer

24. Slide 2-23 Questions? About why radon is a health problem

25. Slide 2-24 Check your understanding See handout 2-2