Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR)
VI Report: "The Health Effects of
Exposure to Indoor Radon"
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) held a
press conference on Thursday, February 19, 1998, to present the findings of
their Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) VI Report: "The
Health Effects of Exposure to Indoor Radon." This new report by the NAS is
the most definitive accumulation of scientific data on indoor radon. The report
confirms that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. and
that it is a serious public health problem. The study fully supports EPA
estimates that radon causes about 15,000 lung cancer deaths per year.
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The National Research Council's published report, entitled: Health Effects of Exposure to Radon: BEIR
VI, Committee on Health Risks of Exposure to Radon (BEIR VI), can be read and purchased from the National
Academy Press
 via their web site. The ISBN number for the book is 0-309-056454-4; 516 pages, 1999. The listed hardcover price for the book
is $54.95 U.S. and $66.00 Intl.
We have posted the Executive Summary and Public
Summary on this site. |
NAS Report on Radon in Drinking Water -
"Risk Assessment of Radon in Drinking Water."
The report, released September 15, 1998 by the
National Academy of Sciences, is the most comprehensive accumulation of
scientific data on the public health risks of radon in drinking water. The
report was required by the Safe Drinking Water Act. The NAS report (BEIR VI)
issued earlier this year confirmed that radon is a serious public health
threat. This new report goes on to refine the risks of radon in drinking water
and confirms that there are drinking water related cancer deaths, primarily
due to lung cancer. The report in general confirms earlier EPA scientific
conclusions and analyses for drinking water, and presents no major changes to
EPA's 1994 risk assessment. A link to NAS's Executive Summary of the report
and initial EPA perspectives are available online at: www.epa.gov/OGWDW/radon/nas.html.
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