Radon in Your Home: It

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Radon in Your Home Its in Your Hands

• A Presentation for Fairfax County, Virginia
  Residents
• Heather Heisterkamp, MPH student
• Walden University
• PUBH 6165-2
• Instructor Dr. Rebecca Heick
• Spring, 2010

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Did you know?

• Radon is a cause of lung cancer.
• No federal regulations or standards to test or
  limit radon exist for places of residence.
• Radon is easy to fix through personal
  preventative measures.

Environmental Protection Agency, Air, Indoor Air
Quality. (2010). Radon. Retrieved April 17, 2010
from http//www.epa.gov/radon
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Objectives

• What is radon?
• Public health significance
• Current control measures
• Barriers to radon reduction
• How can the public protect themselves?
• Additional resources

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What is Radon?
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Characteristics

• Natural gas
• Released from breakdown of uranium and thorium
  found in rocks, soil, or water
• Released in air, groundwater, and surface water
• Colorless with no taste or smell (ATSDR, 2008)
• Variable from month to month and day to day (NCI,
  2004)
• Measured as pico Curies per Liter (pCi/L) of air
• Average indoor level is 1.3 pCi/L average
  outdoor level is .4 pCi/L
• No safe level of exposure (EPA, 2010)

Department of Health and Human Services, Agency
for Toxic Substances Disease Registry. (2008).
ToxFAQs for radon (CAS 14859-67-7). Retrieved
April 17, 2010 from http//www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfac
ts145.html Environmental Protection Agency, Air,
Indoor Air Quality. (2010). Radon. Retrieved from
http//www.epa.gov/radon National Cancer
Institute. (2004). Radon and cancer Questions
and answers. Retrieved April 15, 2010 from
http//www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/
radon
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Sources

• Air
• Water
• Mines
• Residential homes
• Commercial buildings
• Offices
• Schools

Department of Health and Human Services, Agency
for Toxic Substances Disease Registry. (2008).
ToxFAQs for radon (CAS 14859-67-7). Retrieved
April 17, 2010 from http//www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfact
s145.html
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Radon in Homes

• Levels highest in
• sealed homes
• basements
• first floors
• homes built over uranium rich soil
• Reach multiple floors up
• Varies between homes next door (NCI, 2004)
• Well water and groundwater contribute 1-2 of
  radon into air
• Worldwide, 50 of radon exposure comes from homes
  (EPA, 2010).

National Cancer Institute. (2004). Radon and
cancer Questions and answers. Retrieved April
15, 2010 from http//www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/f
actsheet/Risk/radon Environmental Protection
Agency, Air, Indoor Air Quality. (2010). Radon.
Retrieved April 17, 2010 from http//www.epa.gov/
radon
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Public Health Significance
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Radon and Lung Cancer

• WHO, EPA and National Academy of Sciences declare
  radon a public health threat
• Lung cancer
• Direct link between radon exposure and lung cancer

Environmental Protection Agency, Air, Indoor Air
Quality. (2010). Radon. Retrieved from
http//www.epa.gov/radon
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Radon and Lung Cancer Cont.

• Lung Cancer
• Radon causes 15,000-20,000 lung cancer deaths per
  year in the U.S.
• Worldwide, 15 of lung cancer cases due to radon
  exposure
• Smoking may be a contributing factor
• Children are not at increased risk (EPA, 2010)
• Radioactive particles damage cells in lungs (NCI,
  2004)
• Longer exposure associated with increased risk
• Medical tests do not detect exposure (ATSDR, 2008)

Department of Health and Human Services, Agency
for Toxic Substances Disease Registry. (2008).
ToxFAQs for radon (CAS 14859-67-7). Retrieved
April 17, 2010 from http//www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfact
s145.html Environmental Protection Agency, Air,
Indoor Air Quality. (2010). Radon. Retrieved from
http//www.epa.gov/radon National Cancer
Institute. (2004). Radon and cancer Questions
and answers. Retrieved April 15, 2010 from
http//www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/
radon
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Research Studies

• CDC and EPA research radon and health risks (CDC,
  2007)
• Association between radon and lung cancer
• Initial studies with miners (NCI, 2004)
• North American Residential Radon Studies and
  European Residential Radon Studies (EPA, 2010)
• Tom Kelly, Director of EPAs Indoor Environments
  Division These findings effectively end any
  doubts about the risks to Americans of having
  radon in their homes (as cited in EPA, 2010,
  Health Effects)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
National Center for Environmental Health. (2007).
Radon research. Retrieved April 16, 2010 from
http//www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/brochure/profile
_radon.htm National Cancer Institute. (2004).
Radon and cancer Questions and answers.
Retrieved April 15, 2010 from http//www.cancer.go
v/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/radon
Environmental Protection Agency, Air, Indoor Air
Quality. (2010). Radon. Retrieved April 17, 2010
from http//www.epa.gov/radon
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Current Controls
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Federal Controls

• No federal requirements or standards for radon
• Education
• CDCs A Citizens Guide to Radon manual (CDC,
  2007)
• Radon Reduction Act (PL 100-551)
• Assist states
• Update Citizens Guide
• Perform studies
• Recommendations
• Fix radon levels when they are between 2pCi/L and
  4pCi/L (EPA, 2010)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
National Center for Environmental Health. (2007).
Radon research. Retrieved April 16, 2010 from
http//www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/brochure/profile
_radon.htm Environmental Protection Agency,
Air, Indoor Air Quality. (2010). Radon. Retrieved
April 17, 2010 from http//www.epa.gov/radon
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State Controls

• Multimedia Mitigation Programs
• Indoor air programs
• Maintain air levels at 4,000 pCi/L (0.4pCi/L in
  air)
• Community water supply programs
• Maintain water levels at 300 pCi/L (0.03 pCi/L in
  air)

Environmental Protection Agency, Air, Indoor Air
Quality. (2010). Radon. Retrieved April 17, 2010
from http//www.epa.gov/radon
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Radon Zones
Environmental Protection Agency, Air, Indoor Air
Quality. (2010). Radon. Retrieved April 17, 2010
from http//www.epa.gov/radon
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Radon in Fairfax County

• Conducted by Fairfax County Health Department
• Yellow low radon potential (14 were above 4
  pCi/L)
• Red high radon potential (44 were above 4
  pCi/L)

Fairfax County Department of Health. (2010).
Radon air quality. Retrieved April 17, 2010 from
http//www.fairfaxcounty.gov/hd/air/radon.htm
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Fairfax County Program

• Public Health Services goal 40 of homes tested
  in U.S.
• Virginia Department of Healths Indoor Radon
  Program
• Provides education information
• Listing of certified professionals

Virginia Department of Health, Office of
Epidemiology, Radiological Health Programs.
(2010). Indoor radon program. Retrieved April 17,
2010 from http//www.vdh.state.va.us/epidemiology/
radiologicalhealth/radon/index.htm
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Controls for New and Existing Homes

• Radon Resistant New Construction (RRNC)
• Collaboration among EPA, building code
  organizations, and contractors (Moeller, 2005)
• Additional 250-750
• 1.5 million radon resistant home
• RRNC Directory
• States may require disclosure of radon levels
  (EPA, 2010)

Environmental Protection Agency, Air, Indoor Air
Quality. (2010). Radon. Retrieved April 17, 2010
from http//www.epa.gov/radon Moeller, D. W.
(2005). Environmental health (3rd ed.). Boston,
MA Harvard University Press.
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Barriers to Radon Reduction
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Barriers to Reduce Radon

• Existing programs
• Not cost-effective
• Universal testing programs
• Mitigation upon initial testing (Ford, Kelly,
  Teutsch, Thacker, Garge, 1999)
• Cost
• Average cost of mitigation is 1,200 (Moeller,
  2005)

• Ford, E., Kelly, A., Teutsch, S., Thacker, S.,
  Garbe, P. (1999). Radon and lung cancer
• A cost-effectiveness analysis. American Journal
  of Public Health, 89(3), 351357.
• Retrieved from CINAHL Plus with Full Text
  database.
• Moeller, D. W. (2005). Environmental health (3rd
  ed.). Boston, MA Harvard University Press.

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Barriers to Reduce Radon Cont.

• Public perception
• Not a serious health threat
• EPA missed deadline for submitting standards
• http//www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/rnwater.html (EPA,
  2010)
• Radon in water
• No certified laboratories for analysis
• No standards (VDH, 2010)

• Environmental Protection Agency, Air, Indoor Air
  Quality. (2010). Radon. Retrieved April 17, 2010
  from http//www.epa.gov/radon
• Virginia Department of Health, Office of
  Epidemiology, Radiological Health Programs.
  (2010). Indoor radon program. Retrieved April 17,
  2010 from http//www.vdh.state.va.us/epidemiology/
  radiologicalhealth/radon/index.htm

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What Can You Do?
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What Can You Do?

• Test your current home
• Short term (2-90 days)
• Long term (more than 90 days)
• Better predictor of radon levels (NCI, 2004)
• Vent and limit radon from entering house (ATSDR,
  2008)
• Fix if above 4pCi/L (EPA, 2010)

Department of Health and Human Services, Agency
for Toxic Substances Disease Registry. (2008).
ToxFAQs for radon (CAS 14859-67-7). Retrieved
April 17, 2010 from http//www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfact
s145.html Environmental Protection Agency, Air,
Indoor Air Quality. (2010). Radon. Retrieved from
http//www.epa.gov/radon National Cancer
Institute. (2004). Radon and cancer Questions
and answers. Retrieved April 15, 2010 from
http//www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/
radon
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What Can You Do? Cont.

• Be smart when buying a new home
• Radon mitigation system inspection
• Financing from lenders
• Build radon resistant homes (RRNC)
• Only additional 250 to 750 extra
• Contact your State Radon Program
• www.epa.gov/radon/states/virginia.html

Environmental Protection Agency, Air, Indoor Air
Quality. (2010). Radon. Retrieved from
http//www.epa.gov/radon
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Conclusion

• Radon is a threat
• No safe level of exposure
• EPA recommends action even at 2-4pCi/L (EPA,
  2010)
• One out of 15 homes in U.S. estimated to exceed
  recommended limits
• Lung cancer deaths reduced 2-4 (NCI, 2004)
• Take action!

Environmental Protection Agency, Air, Indoor Air
Quality. (2010). Radon. Retrieved from
http//www.epa.gov/radon National Cancer
Institute. (2004). Radon and cancer Questions
and answers. Retrieved April 15, 2010 from
http//www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/
radon
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References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
  National Center for Environmental Health. (2007).
  Radon research. Retrieved April 16, 2010 from
  http//www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/brochure/profile
  _radon.htm
• Department of Health and Human Services, Agency
  for Toxic Substances Disease Registry. (2008).
  ToxFAQs for radon
• (CAS 14859-67-7). Retrieved April 17, 2010
  from http//www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts145.html
• Environmental Protection Agency, Air, Indoor Air
  Quality. (2010). Radon. Retrieved April 17, 2010
  from http//www.epa.gov/radon
• Fairfax County Department of Health. (2010).
  Radon air quality. Retrieved April 17, 2010 from
  http//www.fairfaxcounty.gov/hd/air/radon.htm
• Ford, E., Kelly, A., Teutsch, S., Thacker, S.,
  Garbe, P. (1999). Radon and lung cancer A
  cost-effectiveness analysis. American Journal of
  Public Health, 89(3), 351357. Retrieved from
  CINAHL Plus with Full Text database.
• Hogle, W. (2005). Surgeon General releases
  national health advisory on radon. Clinical
  Journal of Oncology Nursing, 9(2), 146. Retrieved
  from CINAHL Plus with Full Text database.
• Moeller, D. W. (2005). Environmental health (3rd
  ed.). Boston, MA Harvard University Press.
• National Cancer Institute. (2004). Radon and
  cancer Questions and answers. Retrieved April
  15, 2010 from http//www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/f
  actsheet/Risk/radon
• Virginia Department of Health, Office of
  Epidemiology, Radiological Health Programs.
  (2010). Indoor radon program. Retrieved April 17,
  2010 from http//www.vdh.state.va.us/epidemiology/
  radiologicalhealth/radon/index.htm

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Additional Resources

• General information
• EPA www.epa.gov/radon/
• WHO www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs291/en/
• Radon and lung cancer
• National Cancer Institute www.cancer.gov
• Local regulations and standards
• Virginia Department of Health www.vdh.state.va.us
  /Epidemiology/RadiologicalHealth/Radon/
• Fairfax County Health Department
• www.fairfaxcounty.gov/hd/air/radon.htm
• Testing
• The National Environmental Health Association
  (NEHA) National Radon Proficiency Program
  www.neha-nrpp.org
• The National Radon Safety Board (NRSB)
  www.nrsb.org