Transcript RADON: What’s New?

The Facts About
INDOOR RADON EXPOSURE
2006 Radon Risk Information
Prepared by Dallas Jones, Chairman
The American Radon Policy Coalition (ARPC)
Fact Numbers One & Two:
 Radon exposure is the leading cause of
lung cancer in non-smokers; radon
causes lung cancer in smokers as well.
 In 2004, the US EPA and the Science
Advisory Board increased their radon
risk assessment by more than 50% and
now estimate 21,000 Americans die of
radon-induced lung cancer annually
Radon, Smoking & Lung Cancer
 6,579 LC deaths from smoking per 100,000
people in 70 years.
 Assuming a population of 280,000,000, this
represents 160,000 LC deaths/yr.
 21,000 LC deaths per year from radon.
 87% of LC deaths are related to smoking.
 Between 1-5 and 1-6 LCs occur in non-smokers
 12% of all LC deaths in the United States are
linked to radon exposure!
Updated Radon Risk Assessment
(Deaths Per 1000)
Radon
pCi/l
4.0
1.25
0.4
General
Population
NEW (Old)
Never Smoker
NEW (Old)
Smoker
20 per 1000
7 per 1000
62 per 1000
(10 per 1000)
(2 per 1000)
(29 per 1000)
7 per 1000
2 per 1000
20 per 1000
(4 per 1000)
(0.5 per 1000)
(9 per 1000)
2 per 1000
0.7 per 1000
6.5 per 1000
(1 per 1000)
(0.15 per 1000)
(3 per 1000)
NEW (Old)
Revised EPA Publications Reflect
New Risk Assessment
The New Citizen’s Guide to Radon became
available in June 2004
The New Home Buyer’s & Sellers Guide
to Radon became available in June 2005
Order copies at www.epa.gov/radon/pubs
Fact Number Three:
According to the Science Advisory Board,
“radon inhalation is the largest source of
collective radiation exposure (and
presumably, radiation risk) to the U.S.
population as a whole.”
Fact Number Four:
There has been more epidemiologic
investigation exploring the association
between radon (and its decay products)
and lung cancer than any other
environmental carcinogen.
Fact Number Five:
 Residential pooling studies from both
North America and Europe provide direct
evidence linking residential radon
exposure to lung cancer; “These findings
effectively end any doubts about the
risks to Americans of having radon in
their homes,” said Tom Kelly, Director of
EPA’s Indoor Environments Division.
Combined Analysis of European
Case Control Studies
Dec. 2004 Conclusions:
– Collectively demonstrate appreciable hazards
from residential radon
– Residential radon exposure responsible for 2%
of ALL European cancer deaths
– Risk of lung cancer increases 8.4% per 100
Bq/m3 (2.7 pCi/l) increase in radon
concentration.
Combined Analysis of North
American Case Control Studies
March 2005 Conclusions:
– Direct evidence of an association between
residential radon & lung cancer risk
– Extremely consistent with findings from miner
data and animal studies
– Greatly increased confidence that current risk
estimates are not the result of some unknown
latent factors or study specific biases
No More Controversy
 Experimental exposure of animals,
occupational studies of radon-exposed
miners and direct observation from
individuals exposed to radon in their
homes provides a firm scientific
foundation that documents radon is a
major environmental carcinogen.
Fact Number Six:
 Although lung cancer can be treated,
the survival rate is one of the lowest for
those with cancer. From the time of
diagnosis, only 11-15% of those afflicted
will live beyond five years, depending
upon demographic factors.
Fact Number Seven:
The World Health Organization (WHO)
says radon causes up to 15% of all lung
cancers worldwide.
WHO Press Release (June 2005)
Launching International Radon Project
–
–
–
–
–
Initial phase for 3 years (2005-2007)
Increase political & public awareness
Promote sound policy options
Reduce radon’s health impact
Create global radon database
Fact Number Eight:
 In 2005, the U.S. Surgeon General
issued a Health Advisory warning
Americans about the health risk from
exposure to radon in indoor air.
Surgeon General’s Jan. 2005
National Health Advisory
 Issued by the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human
Services & Dr. Richard Carmona
 SG Workshop on Healthy Indoor Environment
concluded Americans spend 85-95% of their time
indoors
 “Based on national averages, we can expect that
many homes owned or financed by federal govt.
programs would have potentially elevated
radon”…OFEE Edward Pinero
Fact Number Nine:
 Because radon is a Class A
carcinogen and the 2nd leading
cause of lung cancer, the EPA and
the Surgeon General recommend
ALL HOMEBUYERS test for
indoor radon.
Radon Gas & Mold Notice &
Release Agreement (June 2004)
 As per Federal Housing Commissioner -To be
provided to purchasers of all HUD foreclosures
 “Purchasers are encouraged to obtain the
services of a qualified & experienced
professional to conduct inspections & tests
regarding radon & mold prior to closing.”
 Signing the Release holds HUD and the Agent
harmless
“For Your Protection: Get A
Home Inspection” (Jan. 2004)
 Notice required for all FHA mortgagees
 Accompanying letter states,”The revised form
incorporates radon testing as one of the
components of a home inspection.”
 Notice clearly states that EPA & Surgeon General
recommend all houses be tested for indoor radon
 Purchasers must sign whether they choose to
have or NOT to have a home inspection.
 Potential ramifications
Experts Advise Inspectors to Disclose
EPA Recommendations to Clients:
“The U.S. EPA and Surgeon General
recommend ALL homebuyers have an
indoor radon test conducted. Radon is a
Class-A carcinogen and the 2nd leading
cause of lung cancer estimated to cause
21,000 deaths in the U.S. annually.”
I have fully read and understand
the disclosure and:
 “I choose to have ACME Home Inspections
conduct an indoor radon test of the home
according to EPA Protocol for an additional fee
of $XX.” (Buyer’s Signature)
 “Against the strong recommendation of EPA,
ACME Home Inspections and my agent, I have
elected not to test the home for the presence of
indoor radon gas and assume all liability for
elevated radon discovered after the transaction
closes.” (Buyer’s Signature)
Fact Numbers Ten & Eleven:
 Radon-induced lung cancer can easily be
prevented by testing your home and
reducing concentrations that are at or above
EPA’s 4 pCi/l Action Level
 Homes with elevated radon are easily (and
inexpensively) fixed with the installation of
an Active Soil Depressurization System by a
certified or state licensed radon mitigation
contractor.
No Worries
There is absolutely no reason for an
elevated radon concentration to
interfere with a home sale!
Radalink affiliates are fully committed to
educating all parties that high radon is not
a deal breaker; fixing is a simple home
improvement
Fact Number Twelve:
 ASD systems also decrease moisture
and other soil gases entering the home,
reducing molds, mildews, methane,
pesticide gases, volatile organic
compounds and other indoor air quality
problems.
New EPA Study on ASD Benefits
 Mitigators have 20 years of anecdotal experience
that Active Soil Depressurization frequently
reduces indoor humidity
 EPA currently studying to quantify humidity
reduction
 Since ASD reverses airflow between house &
soil, other soil gases like methane, pesticides,
chemicals in addition to soil moisture are
prevented from entering
News of Past Cover-Ups We
Should Spread Like..Fertilizer
How Radon is Responsible for Most
Smoking-Related Lung Cancer
Tobacco Radioactivity
In 1990, then U.S. Surgeon General C.
Everett Koop declared on national TV that
radioactivity in cigarettes accounts for at
least 90% of all smoking related cancers.
Former CDC Director Ravenholt has stated
Americans receive more radiation from
tobacco smoke than from any other source.
Why is Tobacco Radioactive?
SUPER PHOSPHATE FERTILIZER
Tobacco companies claim it makes for
“more flavorful” tobacco
Calcium Phosphate fertilizer is extremely
rich in RADIUM 226 (Radon’s mama)
Tobacco plants absorb radon gas and RDPs
from the fertilizer. Airborne RDPs attach to
sticky trichomes on the leaves.
No Coincidence
 Between 1938-1960, the level of radioactive Po210 in American tobacco tripled commensurate
with the increased used of Super Phosphate
Fertilizers.
 U.S. lung cancer rates increased 10 fold between
1938-1956.
 India’s farmers do not use phosphate fertilizers so
Po-210 levels are 15 times less in Indian tobacco.
Lung Cancer Statistics
Despite a 20% reduction
in tobacco use among males
1930
4 LCs per 100,000
male smokers
1960
40 LCs per 100,000
male smokers
1980
72 LCs per 100,000
male smokers
Cover the Fields
Cover-Up the Danger
 Leaked internal memos from tobacco and
chemical companies prove they have known
about the danger for nearly 40 years.
 In 1977, Phillip Morris confirmed that superphosphate fertilizer was the source of radioactive
polonium.
 By 1980, Phillip Morris had figured out how to
remove polonium from tobacco, but has never
implemented it. ($$$)
It Only Gets Deeper…
 When studies were 1st released in the 1970s,
magazines did not print because cigarette
companies threatened to pull advertising.
 Well financed tobacco & chemical companies
(eg. Mobil Mining and Minerals) continue to
lobby legislators.
 Proposed 1984 law to require listing of tobacco
additives met severe opposition
“I don’t wanna hear about it!”