The Health Effects of Radon and Policy Implications for RI

Beth Blum

I calculated the number of lung cancer cases attributable to radon among smokers, former smokers, and nonsmokers in RI for 1995. The result was 61, 34, and 8, respectively, out of a total of 106. Current smokers will suffer disproportionately, because they bear a multiplicative risk from the combined effects of tobacco and radon. For the calculation I used 1990 Census data on the number of single family housing units in RI and on occupancy rates. I obtained smoking prevalence from the 1993 Behavioral Risk Factor and Surveillance Systems Survey of RI, and radon exposure from data collected by the RIDOH during 1986-88. My risk estimates are approximately double those predicted by the Rhode Island Department of Health (a total of 30-50 cases). The state's goal is to reduce the number of occupied buildings with radon concentrations greater than 20 pCi/L by 50% by the year 2000. As cigarette smoking is implicated in the causation of the majority of radon-induced lung cancer cases, I explored both smoking cessation and radon mitigation as options for preventing radon-induced lung cancer. I found that it is more cost-effective to reduce radon-induced lung cancer via mitigation. The cost per case prevented via mitigation is $94,000, relative to $2.25 million per case prevented due to a 28% reduction in smoking prevalence. I recommend changes in the RI Real Estate Disclosure Form, such that the health effects of radon are described in more detail, and the environmental health issues are combined into one section. In addition, radon should be incorporated into the health curriculum of the public schools. Lastly, all sellers must hire a state licensed radon testing company to test their homes during a real estate transaction, and must pay for mitigation if the radon level is greater than 4 pCi/L.