Radon exposure assessment - Connecticut
Article Abstract:
The Connecticut Department of Health Services conducted two surveys to assess the levels of radon gas present in homes in Connecticut. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s maximum exposure guideline is four picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The first survey was conducted from 1985 to 1987 in 202 homes in 44 towns. Radon-detecting devices were placed in the lowest level of each home for a three-month period during the winter, when radon concentrations are likely to be highest. Eleven percent of the homes tested exceeded the EPA's guidelines. In a second survey conducted from 1986 to 1987, radon testing devices were placed in the basement or lowest livable area of 1,157 houses in 168 towns for two days. Of the basements tested, 19 percent exceeded the EPA guidelines. On the basis of these surveys and geological data, 38 municipalities were selected to participate in a household testing program that provided free radon-testing devices to homeowners with instructions for their placement. The results of this program indicated a consistent 3:2 ratio between radon levels in basements and upper living areas. Higher radon levels were present in bedrock areas, and lower levels in areas of sedimentary rock. Higher concentrations were characteristic of older houses and those with cinder block foundations. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that radon levels found in Connecticut may account for 280 cases of preventable lung cancer per year. Smoking apparently acts in tandem with radon exposure in causing lung cancer. As a result, cessation of smoking is particularly important in high-radon areas.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1989
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Lung cancer and exposure to radon in women - New Jersey
Article Abstract:
The New Jersey State Department of Health (NJDOH) evaluated whether exposure to radon in homes increases the risk of lung cancer in women. Radon is a colorless, odorless gas emitted by uranium in the ground; it seeps into buildings and travels from the basement level up. The NJDOH study that began in 1985 measured radon in homes for periods of four days in the basement and one year in living areas; devices called alpha-track detectors were used to make the measurements. In cases involving cancer patients, homes were selected where the subjects had lived for a period of at least 10 years before they were diagnosed with lung cancer. The former homes of 433 cancer patients and 402 controls were tested. Analysis of results showed a significantly increased risk of developing lung cancer as exposure to radon gas increased. Smoking habits of participants were evaluated and revealed that women who smoked fewer than 15 cigarettes per day had the strongest link between radon exposure and lung cancer; that is, the carcinogenic effect of radon exposure was more noticeable among women lacking other risk factors for lung cancer. Levels of radon were highest during the winter heating season, and were higher in the basement than upper levels of the house. Average annual radon levels in the upper living areas were usually below the maximum exposure guideline of four picocuries per liter (pCi/L) , whereas basement readings were as high as 20 pCi/L. Indoor radon testing may be advisable for New Jersey residents, particularly those who smoke.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1989
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Indoor radon and lung cancer
Article Abstract:
Radon, a heavy, colorless, gaseous, radioactive element, has been known to cause lung cancer in miners of uranium and other minerals, and may potentially be a cause of lung cancer in the general public. Radon has been found in some indoor spaces, thus posing a public health risk. Such residential radon usually comes from the soil. The Environmental Protection Agency publishes a pamphlet, 'A Citizen's Guide to Radon.' The guide encourages the testing of homes for radon, especially by prospective home buyers, and provides a framework for interpreting the results. It implements a plan for the control of residential radon that has significant economic, legal, and public health implications. A thorough review of the risks from radon and policies for the control of radon inside homes is recommended.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1989
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