Radon and Lung CancerSilent Killer in the House

Muthumeena Kannappan James MasulloChaturon Tangsangwornthamma

ASSIGNMENT 3: GROUP 5

Outline• Facts About Radon• How Radon Gets into a Home?• Heath Effects• How to Address Radon:

• How Do I Find Out If My Home Has Radon?• Radon Mitigation System

• Radon Legal/Public Policy Environment• Health Impact Pyramid and Proposed

Interventions

Outline• Facts About Radon• How Radon Gets into a Home?• Heath Effects• How to Address Radon:

• How Do I Find Out If My Home Has Radon? • Radon Mitigation System

• Radon Legal/Public Policy Environment • Health Impact Pyramid and Proposed

Interventions

Facts about Radon• Radon is a colorless, odorless, & tasteless gas.• a radioactive gas that emanates from rocks and

soils.

Facts about Radon• The second leading cause of lung cancer in the

general population, after smoking.• radon was classified as a human carcinogen in 1988

by IARC.• tends to concentrate in enclosed spaces like underground mines or houses.

Outline• Facts About Radon• How Radon Gets into a Home?• Heath Effects• How to Address Radon:

• How Do I Find Out If My Home Has Radon? • Radon Mitigation System

• Radon Legal/Public Policy Environment • Health Impact Pyramid and Proposed

Interventions

How Radon Gets into a Home

Soil gas infiltration

Outline• Facts About Radon• How Radon Gets into a Home?• Heath Effects• How to Address Radon:

• How Do I Find Out If My Home Has Radon? • Radon Mitigation System

• Radon Legal/Public Policy Environment • Health Impact Pyramid and Proposed

Interventions

Heath Effects

LUNG CANCER DEATHS Per Year

Estimated 163,510 Lung Cancer Deaths in 2005*

Attributed to RadonApproximately 21,000 EPA 2003

*CA: A Journal for Clinicians - 2005

16000

Comparing Radon Related Cancer to Other Cancer Types

Sources: EPA, 2013; WHO, 2009

The EPA estimates that radon causes thousands of cancer deaths in the U.S. each year.

Source: http://www.mclaughlincentre.ca/research/map_radon/Index.htm

LUNG CANCERS AMONG NON-SMOKING OCCUPANTS OF STRUCTURES WITH ELEVATED RADON LEVELS

Source: http://www.radon.com/radon/radon_survey.html

Radon Risk Levels, Smoker, Non-Smoker

1 If you’re a former smoker, your risks may be lower.2 Assumes 1,000 people are exposed to specified radon level over a lifetime; EPA Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes (EPA 402-R-03-003) at www.epa.gov/radon/healthrisks.html.3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 1999-2001 National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Reports.Source: http://www.usinspect.com/insights/blog/more-powerful-speeding-locomotive-radon-gas

Outline• Facts About Radon• How Radon Gets into a Home?• Heath Effects• How to Address Radon:

• How Do I Find Out If My Home Has Radon? • Radon Mitigation System

• Radon Legal/Public Policy Environment • Health Impact Pyramid and Proposed

Interventions

How to Address Radon:How Do I Find Out If My Home Has Radon?

How to Test for Radon?• simple & inexpensive• test in lowest lived-in area of your home.

• By lived-in we mean; where you or a member of your family spends more than 4 hours per day in that area.

Source: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/radiation/radon/testing-analyse-eng.php

• Sub-slab Depressurization ($800-$2500)

• Sump hole suction (under $300)

• Sub-membrane depressurization in crawlspace

• Sealing of radon entry ($200-$400)

• Natural ventilation

Radon Mitigation System

• Sub-slab Depressurization • Sump hole suction

• Sub-membrane depressurization in crawlspace

• Sealing of radon entry

• Natural Ventilation

Radon Mitigation System

SUB-SLAB DEPRESSURIZATION

• Sub-slab depressurization

• Sump hole suction • Sub-membrane depressurization in crawlspace

• Sealing of radon entry

• Natural Ventilation

Radon Mitigation System

• Sub-slab depressurization

• Sump hole suction

• Sub-membrane depressurization in crawlspace

• Sealing of radon entry

• Natural Ventilation

Radon Mitigation System

• Sub-slab depressurization

• Sump hole suction

• Sub-membrane depressurization in crawl space

• Sealing of radon entry • Natural Ventilation

Radon Mitigation System

• Sub-slab depressurization

• Sump hole suction

• Sub-membrane depressurization in crawl space

• Sealing of radon entry

• Natural Ventilation

Radon Mitigation System

Outline• Facts About Radon• How Radon Gets into a Home?• Heath Effects• How to Address Radon:

• How Do I Find Out If My Home Has Radon? • Radon Mitigation System

• Radon Legal/Public Policy Environment • Health Impact Pyramid and Proposed

Interventions

Federal: Toxic Substances Control Act (1988)

• EPA provide educational material

• no monitoring or abatement

• EPA recommend & encourage testing/mitigation

• State Indoor Radon Grant (SIRG)cost of mitigation: schools & non-consumer

Radon Legal Environment

Some states

• requiring disclosure in home purchase (CT) rental agreements (IL)

• Radon testing every X years (ME)

• Tax credits for radon-free buildings (NY)

Radon Legal Environment

Outline• Facts About Radon• How Radon Gets into a Home?• Heath Effects• How to Address Radon:

• How Do I Find Out If My Home Has Radon? • Radon Mitigation System

• Radon Legal/Public Policy Environment • Health Impact Pyramid & Proposed

Interventions

THE HEALTH IMPACT PYRAMID

+ Proposed Interventions

Pyramid Level 1

• Buying/selling a home • Disclosure for tenants

SchoolsZone 1 landlords and follow up every 2years (1 & 3)

Pyramid Level 2

• Free radon testing kits to Zone 1 areas • tax credit for RRNC• interest free loans• Media campaigns and radon information pamphlets• radon resistant/ radon under control certifications (2 & 5)

Pyramid Level 3

• RRNC–$250-$750 • Radon mitigation $800-$2500 under home insurance/ renters insurance plans • Mandatory follow up testing (1 & 3)• HCW - door-to-door radon services

Pyramid Level 4

Professional training $125-$600 per person

Health check-up under insurance plans

Pyramid Level 5

• Radon resistant/ radon under control certifications (2 & 5)

• Smoking cessation and counseling • Radon education in schools• Oncology services

Group Coordination 1st week 2nd week 3rd week Presentation

day

Collect data

Write paper

Create slides presentation

Presentation (today)

We all are working together to FIGHT!!Radon!