Radon and Radon Mitigation Issues in Wyoming Dragan

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 2

Goals What is radon? How does radon enter your home? Presence of radon in the U. S. and Wyoming Radon exposure and lung cancer Cost of lung cancer treatment vs. cost of radon mitigation What could the state and insurance companies do? 3

What is radon? Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas (EPA, 2010 b) It can be found in the soil, air, and water Human senses cannot detect it (Moeller, 2005, p. 121) It “is a leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers” (EPA, 2010 b) References: Environmental Protection Agency. (EPA). (2010 b). Radon. Retrieved March 17 from http: //www. epa. gov/radon/index. html Moeller, D. W. (2005). Environmental health (3 rd ed. ). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. 4

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. 5

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 6

Radon in Wyoming Source: Environmental Protection Agency. (EPA). (2010 d). Radon: Wyoming. Retrieved March 17, 2010 from http: //www. epa. gov/radon/states/wyoming. html 7

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, 2010 a). Radon can be released into the air by operating washing machines (Ishikawa, Yasuoka, Tokonami, Takahashi, & Suda, 2008, p. 719). References: Environmental Protection Agency. (2010 a). 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. 8

Radon test kits availability Wyoming 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. 9

Radon exposure and health Exposure to radon may cause lung cancer in both non-smokers and smokers (EPA, 2010 c). 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). (2010 c). 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/2005/03/21 radon. html 10

Radon’s contribution to mortality Source: Environmental Protection Agency. (2010). Radon: A citizen’s guide to radon. Retrieved March 17, 2010 from http: //www. epa. gov/radon/pubs/citguide. html 11

Radon – lung cancer connection Radon Level 20 pci/L For smokers, exposure over lifetime, out of 1000 people For non-smokers, exposure over lifetime, out of 1000 people 4 pci/L 260 could get lung cancer 150 could get lung cancer 120 could get lung cancer 62 could get lung cancer 2 pci/L 32 could get lung cancer 4 could get lung cancer 1. 3 pci/L 20 could get lung cancer 2 could get lung cancer 10 pci/L 8 pci/L What to do? Stop smoking and 36 could get lung cancer Fix your home! 18 could get lung cancer Fix your home! 15 could get lung cancer Fix your home! 7 could get lung cancer Fix your home! Consider fixing to between 2 and 4 pci/L 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 12

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 13

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 14

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_For. ACancer 15

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_For. ACancer 16

Cost of lung cancer treatment Average 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 17

Radon mitigation Why 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 (2010 a) 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, 2010 a) Reference: Environmental Protection Agency. (2010 a). Consumer’s guide to radon reduction: How to fix your home. Retrieved March 17, 2010 from http: //www. epa. gov/radon/pubs/consguid. html 18

Cost of radon mitigation Technique Typical radon reduction Cost 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. (2010 a). Consumer’s guide to radon reduction: How to fix your home. Retrieved March 17, 2010 from http: //www. epa. gov/radon/pubs/consguid. html 19

Cost of radon mitigation (cont’d) Technique Typical radon reduction Cost of installation Annual operating cost/loss Natural ventilation in a crawlspace 0% - 50% $200 - $500 if additional vents installed Some energy penalties 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 Sealing of radon entry routes Source: Environmental Protection Agency. (2010 a). Consumer’s guide to radon reduction: How to fix your home. Retrieved March 17, 2010 from http: //www. epa. gov/radon/pubs/consguid. html 20

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. (2010 a). Consumer’s guide to radon reduction: How to fix your home. Retrieved March 17, 2010 from http: //www. epa. gov/radon/pubs/consguid. html 21

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 22

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. (2010 a). 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. (2010 b). Radon. Retrieved March 17, 2010 from http: //www. epa. gov/radon/index. html Environmental Protection Agency. (2010 c). Radon: Health risks. Retrieved March 17, 2010 from http: //www. epa. gov/radon/healthrisks. html 23

References (cont’d) Environmental Protection Agency. (2010 d). 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 (3 rd 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/cgibin/quickprofiles/profile. pl? 56&047#RT_For. ACancer University of Iowa. (2005). Study shows link between residential radon exposure and lung cancer. Retrieved April 16, 2010 from http: //www. uihealthcare. com/news/2005/03/21 radon. html 24

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). (2010 a). Radon. Retrieved April 13, 2010 from http: //www. epa. gov/radon/index. html Environmental Protection Agency. (EPA). (2010 b). Radon: A citizen’s guide to radon. Retrieved April 23, 2010 from http: //www. epa. gov/radon/pubs/citguide. html Gray, A. , Read, S. , Mc. Gale, 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 Radon 1. com. (2010). Radon education: Facts & Myths. Retrieved April 13, 2010 from http: //www. radon 1. 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 25