skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Risk assessment of exposure to waterborne and airborne radon-222 in Illinois. Final report

Abstract

This study analyzed epidemiological and experimental animal studies in order to develop exposure-response relationships for radon-induced cancer. These relationships were used to estimate lifetime risks and annual excess cases based on the available waterborne and airborne data for Illinois. Exceedances of the USEPA action level of 4pCi/l occurred in 13% of 303 first-floor measurements and 43% of 1094 basement measurements. For waterborne radon, the highest lifetime risk of cancer mortality associated with an Illinois groundwater-based drinking water system was estimated to be 4 x 104. The number of excess cases of fatal cancer generated per year in Illinois was estimated to be about six. For airborne radon, a tentative value of 0.9 pCi/l (for first floors), derived from the limited existing data, was used to estimate the average lifetime lung-cancer mortality risk and the number of excess cases of fatal lung cancer generated per year. The average lifetime lung-cancer mortality risk was estimated to be 0.0048, and the annual number of excess cases of fatal lung cancer was estimated to be 784. Due to the nature of the underlying exposure-response relationships for radon-induced cancer, the values presented most likely represent upper-bound estimates.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Hallenbeck (William H.), La Grange, IL (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
5319310
Report Number(s):
PB-88-160494/XAB
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; RADON 222; INDOOR AIR POLLUTION; WATER POLLUTION; DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS; EPIDEMIOLOGY; ILLINOIS; PROGRESS REPORT; RISK ASSESSMENT; AIR POLLUTION; ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES; DOCUMENT TYPES; EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI; FEDERAL REGION V; HEAVY NUCLEI; ISOTOPES; NORTH AMERICA; NUCLEI; POLLUTION; RADIOISOTOPES; RADON ISOTOPES; USA; 500300* - Environment, Atmospheric- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989); 520300 - Environment, Aquatic- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1989)

Citation Formats

Hallenbeck, W H. Risk assessment of exposure to waterborne and airborne radon-222 in Illinois. Final report. United States: N. p., 1987. Web.
Hallenbeck, W H. Risk assessment of exposure to waterborne and airborne radon-222 in Illinois. Final report. United States.
Hallenbeck, W H. 1987. "Risk assessment of exposure to waterborne and airborne radon-222 in Illinois. Final report". United States.
@article{osti_5319310,
title = {Risk assessment of exposure to waterborne and airborne radon-222 in Illinois. Final report},
author = {Hallenbeck, W H},
abstractNote = {This study analyzed epidemiological and experimental animal studies in order to develop exposure-response relationships for radon-induced cancer. These relationships were used to estimate lifetime risks and annual excess cases based on the available waterborne and airborne data for Illinois. Exceedances of the USEPA action level of 4pCi/l occurred in 13% of 303 first-floor measurements and 43% of 1094 basement measurements. For waterborne radon, the highest lifetime risk of cancer mortality associated with an Illinois groundwater-based drinking water system was estimated to be 4 x 104. The number of excess cases of fatal cancer generated per year in Illinois was estimated to be about six. For airborne radon, a tentative value of 0.9 pCi/l (for first floors), derived from the limited existing data, was used to estimate the average lifetime lung-cancer mortality risk and the number of excess cases of fatal lung cancer generated per year. The average lifetime lung-cancer mortality risk was estimated to be 0.0048, and the annual number of excess cases of fatal lung cancer was estimated to be 784. Due to the nature of the underlying exposure-response relationships for radon-induced cancer, the values presented most likely represent upper-bound estimates.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5319310}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1987},
month = {Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1987}
}

Technical Report:
Other availability
Please see Document Availability for additional information on obtaining the full-text document. Library patrons may search WorldCat to identify libraries that may hold this item. Keep in mind that many technical reports are not cataloged in WorldCat.

Save / Share: