Radon Gas
Radon gas is present in the air wherever uranium is present in the
ground - which is virtually everywhere. Although radon gas has been
present since the beginning of time, it is only since the high price and
limited availability of energy caused people to make their homes
relatively tight that it has become perceived as a "problem." Several
very important factors in the history of the radon gas problem should be
noted.
- (1) It was only through a mistake in interpretation of the cause of
lung cancer in uranium miners in the 1940s that the problem became
prominent.
- (2) It is probably a mis-use of statistics (use of the linear
no-threshold model) that causes the extent of the problem to be
significantly exaggerated.
- (3) Although some countries have limited the allowable radon gas
in homes to about 20 picocuries per liter, and no evidence of lung
cancer causation has been seen for exposure several times higher than
that, the United States has a limit of 4 picocuries per liter, and the
European Union has set the limit at less than 2 picocuries per liter.
- Nevertheless, a number of prestigious groups, including the
Unites States National Academy of Science have approached the problem of
radon gas in homes very conservatively.
A large amount of literature is available in this area, including the
following annotated list:
EPA radon gas
home page
This web site contains information regarding radon gas, including a
link to a radon map of the United States and links to listings of
published documents regarding radon gas, its dangers, and mitigation
published by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Many of
the published documents regarding radon gas are referenced.
Health Risks:
summary for lung cancer due to smoking and radon, from the US
EPA.
Arizona State Geological Society
This is an excellent site, with links to virtually any web site
that is seriously discussing the radon gas problem. The articles and web
sites referenced herein seem to me to be of high scientific quality, and
cover virtually all aspects of the radon gas problem. A number of
links are also given for information regarding other areas involving
nuclear radiation, such as nuclear medicine, food irradiation, and
nuclear waste.
National Academy of Science B.E.I.R. reports and related documents:
Biological
Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) VI Report: "The Health Effects of
Exposure to Indoor Radon"
- Contains a lot of information, updated from the original
radon report of BEIR II. They consider many aspects of the
analysis, including the effect of smoking, biological mechanisms by which
the progeny of radon can cause lung cancer, and the questions
presented by the existence of a possible threshold.
Department of Energy Uranium Miners Site:
Uranium
Miners Resources
- Article discussing recent evaluation of the effect of radon gas on
lung cancer in uranium miners.
Other radon sites:
National
Safety Council, Environmental Health Center, RADON Home Page
- This site lists a number of web sites discussing the radon
gas problem.
United States
Geological Survey: Radon in Earth, Air, and Water
- Information regarding the geology of radon gas, including maps showing
terrestrial gamma radioactivity in the United States and a link to The
High Radon Project-Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, that contains a
county-by county
radon map of the United States, as well as uranium
concentration maps.
It’s
Time to Tell the Truth About the Health Benefits of Low-Dose Radiation, by
James Muckerheide; 21st Century Science and Technology Magazine
- Interesting article in support of hormesis in analysis of low-level
radon exposure.
The Why Files:
Radiation Reassessed: a nice "FAQ" sequence answering all of your
questions about radiation.
Radiation
and Health - Current Issues
- Summaries and links regarding a number of studies in areas relating
health and low level radiation exposure, sponsored by WISE.
The
Idaho State University Radiation Information Network
- Comprehensive list of links on radon gas and a number of other
radiation topics
Radon transforms dream home into a long nightmare, By Susan
Green, Copyright 1998 Tampa Tribune, July 26, 1998.
- Newspaper article discussing one example of over-reaction in
mitigation of radon in home. From Junkscience.com.
Radon-related articles by Bernard L. Cohen
- A series of articles, criticisms, and discussions of the articles and criticisms, regarding the radon research of
Professor Emeritus Bernard L. Cohen of the University of Pittsburgh. Also included are a number of references to
safety issues involving long-term high-level radioactive waste burial.
THE IOWA RADON LUNG CANCER STUDY
- Recent study (initiated in 1993 with phase two initiating in 2000) concluding that there is a
correlation between radon exposure and lung cancer incidence down to as low as 4 pC/l.
Residential
Radon Gas Exposure and Lung Cancer - The Iowa Radon Lung Cancer
Study, American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 151, No. 11
(2000).
European Union Radon Sites:
NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials), Radon
Gas, Radon Activity & Protection from Radon in Buildings
- Radon EuroCode: Harmonized European Code of Design & Construction Practice on Protection from Radon in Buildings.
Radon Protection of Buildings
- Critical Issues of Design & Construction in the E.U., with lots of data on existing buildings and information on how
standards are set.
Canadian radon site:
Canada Radiation
Geophysics: Radon
- Discussion of upper limit of radon gas in
homes, above which remedial action is "recommended." Their limit happens
to be about five (5) times higher than the U.S. limit, which is in turn
about four times higher than that currently recommended by the European
Union.
New Canadian Radon Limit: 20pC/L down to 5pC/L:
Health Canada: It's Your Health: Radon
Canadian
Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Resource: Radon in
Buildings
American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists
- The AARST takes a very strong position for low allowable limits on
radon gas in homes. See their
AARST home page and a page on their web site that
presents the AARST position on radon gas and 13 recent studies (1999-2002), including the
synergistic effect between smoking and radon gas found in European studies.
Print references
Cohen, B.L. Test of the linear-no threshold theory of radiation
carcinogenesis for inhaled radon decay products. Health Phys
1995;68:157-174
- Seminal article establishing hormesis as an important effect in the
analysis of radon gas exposure. Also available on the
web.