Screening Lifetime Risks to Help Prevent Radon Exposure: A Methodology for Public Health Policy Makers

Abstract

This paper provides an easy-to-use screening methodology to estimate potential excess lifetime lung cancer risk resulting from indoor radon exposure. The methodology was developed under the U.S. EPA Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation sponsorship for the agency’s Integrated Environmental Management Projects (IEMP) and State/Regional Comparative Risk Projects. These projects help policy makers understand and use scientific data to develop environmental problem-solving strategies. This research presents the risk assessment methodology and discusses its basis. The methodology facilitates analyses and sensitivity studies, and the paper includes several sensitivity study options. The paper also identifies assumptions and uncertainties built into the methodology, and their relative importance. The methodology draws from several sources, including risk assessment formulations developed by the U.S. EPA’s Office of Radiation Programs, the EPA’s Integrated Environmental Management Project (Denver), the International Commission on Radiological Protection, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The methodology will be most helpful to those who need to make decisions concerning radon testing, public education, and exposure prevention and mitigation programs.