The Agency has updated the estimates of lung cancer risks from indoor radon based on the National Academy of Sciences’ (NAS)
latest report on radon, the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) VI Report (1999). EPA worked closely with
the Science Advisory Board (SAB), an independent panel of scientific experts, to determine how best to apply
the risk models developed by the BEIR VI committee. The SAB’s advice and recommendations
were incorporated
modifying and extending the methods and approaches used in BEIR VI to construct a single model yielding results midway
between the results obtained using the two models preferred by the BEIR VI committee.
The Agency's updated calculation of a best
estimate of annual lung cancer deaths from radon is about 21,000 (with an uncertainty range of 8,000 to 45,000),
which is consistent with the
estimates of the BEIR VI Report. A single risk model also permitted the
Agency to calculate a numerical estimate of the risk
per unit exposure [lung cancer deaths per working level month (WLM)] which will be used to update estimated lung cancer risks from radon
in various publications, including “ A Citizen’s Guide to Radon.”
The full text of the updated risk assessment, “EPA Assessment
of Risks from Radon in Homes” (EPA 402-R-03-003) is available
as a downloadable Adobe Acrobat PDF file -
www.epa.gov/radiation/docs/assessment/radon_in_homes.pdf
The following is an updated chart of the lifetime risk of lung cancer death per person from radon exposure in homes
(excerpted from the updated radon risk assessment).
Radon Level
a |
Lifetime Risk of
Lung Cancer Death (per person) from Radon Exposure in
Homes b |
pCi/L |
Never Smokers |
Current
Smokers c |
General
Population |
20 |
36 out of
1,000 |
26 out of 100 |
11 out of 100 |
10 |
18 out of
1,000 |
15 out of 100 |
56 out of
1,000 |
8 |
15 out of
1,000 |
12 out of 100 |
45 out of
1,000 |
4 |
73 out of
10,000 |
62 out of
1,000 |
23 out of
1,000 |
2 |
37 out of
10,000 |
32 out of
1,000 |
12 out of
1,000 |
1.25 |
23 out of
10,000 |
20 out of
1,000 |
73 out of
10,000 |
0.4 |
73 out of
100,000 |
64 out of
10,000 |
23 out of
10,000 |
a Assumes
constant lifetime exposure in homes at these levels.
b Estimates are subject to uncertainties as
discussed in Chapter VIII of the risk assessment.
c Note: BEIR VI did not specify excess
relative risks for current smokers. |
Additional resources related to the updated risk assessment
include:
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