The health risks of radon: The BEIR IV report and beyond
The National Academy of Sciences' BEIR IV Report deals with the health effects in human populations exposed to internally-deposited alpha-emitting radionuclides and their decay products. Quantitative risk estimates for cancer induction are derived, mainly from analyses of epidemiological data. The Report addresses the health outcomes of exposure to radon and its daughters, primarily lung cancer risks of worker exposure to radon progeny in underground mines and in the general public in indoor domestic environments. An excess relative risk model of lung cancer mortality and exposure to radon progeny is developed; this models the excess risk per Working Level Month in terms of time intervals prior to an attained age, and is dependent on time-since-exposure and age at risk. Risk projections are presented and cover exposure situations of current public health concern. For example, the lifetime risk of lung cancer mortality due to lifetime exposure to radon progeny in terms of WLM and alpha-particle dose to the target cells of the bronchial epithelium is estimated to be 350 excess deaths per million person-WLM. Lifetime exposure to 1 WLM y /sub /minus/1/ is estimated to increase the number of deaths due to lung cancer by a factor of about 1.5 over the current rate for both males and females in a population having the current prevalence of cigarette-smoking. Occupational exposure to 4 WLM y/sub /minus/1/ from ages 20 y to 40 y is projected to increase lung cancer deaths by a factor of 1.6 over the current rate of this age cohort in the general population. In all of these cases, most of the increased risk occurs to smokers for who the risk is up to ten times greater than for nonsmokers. 10 refs., 1 tab.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-76SF00098
- OSTI ID:
- 5728404
- Report Number(s):
- LBL-27448; CONF-8906195-1; ON: DE89015335
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Radon homes: dangerous or not, Kansas City, MO, USA, 15 Jun 1989; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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INGESTION
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RADIOINDUCTION
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BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
DAUGHTER PRODUCTS
HEALTH HAZARDS
LUNGS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MORTALITY
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560161* - Radionuclide Effects
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