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Radon and Radon Mitigation Issues in Wyoming. Dragan Skropanic PUBH 8165 Section 01 Prof. R. Heick April 24, 2010. For whom is this written?. Elected and appointed public officials in the state of Wyoming Insurance agents General public. Goals. What is radon? - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Dragan SkropanicPUBH 8165 Section 01 Prof. R. Heick
April 24, 2010
For whom is this written?
Elected and appointed public officials in the state of Wyoming
Insurance agentsGeneral public
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GoalsWhat is radon?How does radon enter your home?Presence of radon in the U.S. and WyomingRadon exposure and lung cancerCost of lung cancer treatment vs. cost of radon
mitigationWhat could the state and insurance companies do?
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What is radon?Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas (EPA,
2010b)It can be found in the soil, air, and waterHuman senses cannot detect it (Moeller, 2005, p. 121)It “is a leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers”
(EPA, 2010b)
References: Environmental Protection Agency. (EPA). (2010b). Radon. Retrieved March 17 from
http://www.epa.gov/radon/index.html Moeller, D. W. (2005). Environmental health (3rd ed.). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
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Where can one find radon?Radon is present everywhere in the world;The U.S. is not an exception;The highest readings are in the Rocky Mountain states,
most of the Midwestern states, Appalachian region, and some New England states, as the image on the next slide will show.
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The red states
Source: Environmental Protection Agency. (EPA). Radon: EPA map of radon zones. Retrieved March 18, 2010 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/zonemap.html
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Radon in Wyoming
Source: Environmental Protection Agency. (EPA). (2010d). Radon: Wyoming. Retrieved March 17, 2010 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/states/wyoming.html
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How does radon enter your home?It may come in from the soil through foundation cracks
and other openings.Radon is present in water. It can be released into air
while showering (EPA, 2010a). Radon can be released into the air by operating washing
machines (Ishikawa, Yasuoka, Tokonami, Takahashi, & Suda, 2008, p. 719).
References:
Environmental Protection Agency. (2010a). Consumer’s guide to radon reduction: How to fix your home. Retrieved March 17, 2010 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/consguid.html
Ishikawa, T., Yasuoka, Y., Tokonami, S., Takahashi, H., & Suda, H. (2009). Characterization of airborne radon released by domestic showering and the use of a washing machine. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 279(3), 719-724.
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Radon test kits availabilityWyoming Radon Test Kit Program is available online at
http://www.radon.com/sub/wy/
The price is low: one can get 2 kits for $6.95.
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Radon exposure and healthExposure to radon may cause lung cancer in both non-smokers and
smokers (EPA, 2010c).
University of Iowa study shows a 11 to 21 percent increased risk of developing lung cancer at 3 pci/L of air during the time period of 5 to 30 years (University of Iowa, 2005). Recall that the U.S. EPA’s current “action level” is set at 4 pci/L.
References: Environmental Protection Agency. (EPA). (2010c). Radon: Health risks. Retrieved March 18, 2010 from
http://www.epa.gov/radon/healthrisks.html University of Iowa. (2005). Study shows link between residential radon exposure and lung cancer. Retrieved
April 16, 2010 from http://www.uihealthcare.com/news/news/2005/03/21radon.html
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Radon’s contribution to mortality
Source: Environmental Protection Agency. (2010). Radon: A citizen’s guide to radon . Retrieved March 17, 2010 fromhttp://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html
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Radon – lung cancer connectionRadon Level
For smokers, exposure over lifetime, out of
1000 people
For non-smokers, exposure over lifetime,
out of 1000 people
What to do? Stop smoking and
20 pci/L 260 could get lung cancer
36 could get lung cancer Fix your home!
10 pci/L 150 could get lung cancer
18 could get lung cancer Fix your home!
8 pci/L 120 could get lung cancer
15 could get lung cancer Fix your home!
4 pci/L 62 could get lung cancer 7 could get lung cancer Fix your home!
2 pci/L 32 could get lung cancer 4 could get lung cancer Consider fixing tobetween 2 and 4 pci/L
1.3 pci/L 20 could get lung cancer 2 could get lung cancer Reducing below this level may be difficult
Source: Environmental Protection Agency. (EPA). Radon: Health risks. Retrieved March 17, 2010 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/healthrisks.html
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Lung cancer by state
Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (CDC). Lung cancer rates by state. Retrieved April 17, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/lung/statistics/state.htm
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Deaths from lung & bronchus cancer by state
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (CDC). (2010). Lung cancer rates by state. Retrieved April 17, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/lung/statistics/state.htm
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Lung & Bronchus Cancer in Wyoming
Source: National Cancer Institute. (NCI). (2010). State cancer profiles: Wyoming lung & bronchus. Retrieved April 13, 2010 from http://statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov/cgi-bin/quickprofiles/profile.pl?56&047#RT_ForACancer
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Lung & Bronchus Cancer in Wyoming (cont’d)
Source: National Cancer Institute. (NCI). (2010). State cancer profiles: Wyoming lung & bronchus. Retrieved April 13, 2010 from http://statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov/cgi-bin/quickprofiles/profile.pl?56&047#RT_ForACancer
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Cost of lung cancer treatmentAverage cost per patient for three periods of treatment could
cost $30,000 in 1996 dollars (EPA, 2002, p. 14)
Total medical costs through 10 years of treatment after diagnosis can reach $107,000 in 1996 dollars (EPA, 2002, p. 22)
Estimated total burden on the state of Wyoming: $23,861,000 in 1996 dollars (see slide 13)
Estimates in 2010 dollars are higher
Reference: Environmental Protection Agency. (EPA). (2002). Cost of lung cancer. Retrieved April 16, 2010 from http://www.epa.gov/oppt/coi/pubs/II_5.pdf
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Radon mitigationWhy radon mitigation? Because it can reduce the unsafe levels of the gas, and, thus,
reduce the risk of lung cancer significantly.
What to do? EPA (2010a) recommends:Select a qualified radon mitigation contractor to reduce the
radon levels in your home. Determine an appropriate radon reduction method. Maintain your radon reduction system. (EPA, 2010a)
Reference:Environmental Protection Agency. (2010a). Consumer’s guide to radon reduction: How to fix your home.
Retrieved March 17, 2010 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/consguid.html
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Cost of radon mitigationTechnique Typical radon
reductionCost of installation Annual operating
cost
Subslab suction 50% - 99% $800 - $2,500 $50 - $200
Passive subslab suction
30% - 70% $550 - $2,250 Some energy penalties
Draintile suction 50% - 99% $800 - $1,700 $50 - $200
Block-wall suction 50% - 99% $1,500 - $3,000 $100 - $400
Sump-wall suction 50% - 99% $800 - $2,500 $50 - $250
Crawlspace depressurization
50% - 99% $1,000 - $2,500 $50 - $250
Source: Environmental Protection Agency. (2010a). Consumer’s guide to radon reduction: How to fix your home. Retrieved March 17, 2010 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/consguid.html
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Cost of radon mitigation (cont’d)Technique Typical radon
reductionCost of installation Annual operating
cost/loss
Natural ventilation in a crawlspace
0% - 50% $200 - $500 if additional vents
installed
Some energy penalties
Sealing of radon entry routes
Variable; not easy to determine
$100 - $2,000 None
Home (basement) pressurization
50% - 99% $500 - $1,500 $150 - $500
Natural ventilation Variable; temporary $200 - $500 if additional vents
installed
$100 - $700
Source: Environmental Protection Agency. (2010a). Consumer’s guide to radon reduction: How to fix your home. Retrieved March 17, 2010 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/consguid.html
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Most effective and most expensive methods
Technique Typical radon reduction
Cost of installation Annual operating cost/loss
Private well water systems: aeration
95% - 99% $3,000 - $4,500 $50 - $150
Private well water systems: granular activated carbon
85% - 99% $1,000 - $3,000 None
Source: Environmental Protection Agency. (2010a). Consumer’s guide to radon reduction: How to fix your home. Retrieved March 17, 2010 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/consguid.html
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What could the state do?Provide incentives to contractors and construction
companies to test for radon and install radon mitigation systems before a home is sold
Provide incentives to home owners who install a mitigation system
Provide financial assistance to those at or below poverty line to install a mitigation system
Work with health insurance companies to offer lower insurance premiums to those who have installed a radon mitigation system
Educate the general public
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References Catelinois, O., Rogel, A., Laurier, D., Billon, S., Hemon, D., Verger, P., & Tirmarche, M. (2006). Lung cancer
attributable to indoor radon exposure in France: Impact of the risk models and uncertainty analysis. Environmental Health Perspectives, 114(9), 1361-1366.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (CDC). (2010). Lung cancer rates by state. Retrieved March 17, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/lung/statistics/state.htm
Environmental Protection Agency. (EPA). (2002). Cost of lung cancer. Retrieved April 16, 2010 from http://www.epa.gov/oppt/coi/pubs/II_5.pdf
Environmental Protection Agency. (2010a). Consumer’s guide to radon reduction: How to fix your home. Retrieved March 17, 2010 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/consguid.html
Environmental Protection Agency. (2010b). Radon. Retrieved March 17, 2010 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/index.html
Environmental Protection Agency. (2010c). Radon: Health risks. Retrieved March 17, 2010 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/healthrisks.html
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References (cont’d) Environmental Protection Agency. (2010d). Radon: Wyoming. Retrieved March 17, 2010 from
http://www.epa.gov/radon/states/wyoming.html
Ishikawa, T., Yasuoka, Y., Tokonami, S., Takahashi, H., & Suda, H. (2009). Characterization of airborne radon released by domestic showering and the use of a washing machine. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 279(3), 719-724.
Moeller, D. W. (2005). Environmental health (3rd ed.). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
National Cancer Institute. (NCI). (2010). State cancer profiles: Wyoming lung & bronchus. Retrieved April 24, 2010 from http://statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov/cgi-bin/quickprofiles/profile.pl?56&047#RT_ForACancer
University of Iowa. (2005). Study shows link between residential radon exposure and lung cancer. Retrieved April 16, 2010 from http://www.uihealthcare.com/news/news/2005/03/21radon.html
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Further sources Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. (ATSDR). (2000). Case studies in environmental
medicine: Radon toxicity. Retrieved March 17, 2010 from http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/radon/
American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists. (AARST). (2010). The dawn of a new era for radon proficiency. Retrieved April 13, 2010 from http://www.aarst.org/aarst/education.shtml
Environmental Protection Agency. (EPA). (2010a). Radon. Retrieved April 13, 2010 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/index.html
Environmental Protection Agency. (EPA). (2010b). Radon: A citizen’s guide to radon. Retrieved April 23, 2010 from http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html
Gray, A., Read, S., McGale, P., & Darby, S. (2009). Lung cancer deaths from indoor radon and the cost effectiveness and potential of policies to reduce them. British Medical Journal, 338(7688), 1-11.
Heartland Radon Research and Education Program. (HRREP). (2006). The Iowa radon lung cancer study. Retrieved April 23, 2010 from http://www.cheec.uiowa.edu/misc/radon.html
Radon1.com. (2010). Radon education: Facts & Myths. Retrieved April 13, 2010 from http://www.radon1.com/education.htm
Wyoming Department of Health. (WDH). (2010). Wyoming radon project. Retrieved March 17, 2010 from http://wdh.state.wy.us/PHSD/radon/index.html
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