Health effects of radon exposure. Report of the Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Archives of Internal Medicine; (USA)

OSTI ID:5798031

The consensus of scientists is that exposure to radon is hazardous, but disagreement exists about the effects of lower radon concentrations. Studies of underground miners have indicated that the risk of lung cancer increases in proportion to the intensity and duration of exposure to radon, and a recent authoritative report (BEIR IV) has concluded that estimates based on those studies are appropriate for estimating risks for occupants of homes. The BEIR IV report concluded that smoking cigarettes increases the risk of lung cancer associated with radon. Average radon levels in US homes range from 0.055 to 0.148 Bq/L (1.5 to 4 pCi/L), depending on the circumstances of measurement. Few studies have investigated health outcomes in occupants of homes with high radon levels. In advising patients about reducing the risks associated with radon, physicians should consider the costs, as well as the benefits, of remedial actions, and they should emphasize that, by far, the best way to avoid lung cancer is to stop smoking.

• OSTI ID: 5798031
• Journal Information: Archives of Internal Medicine; (USA), Journal Name: Archives of Internal Medicine; (USA) Vol. 151:4; ISSN AIMDA; ISSN 0003-9926
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540130 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560161* -- Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology-- Man
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AEROSOLS
AIR POLLUTION
BODY
COLLOIDS
DISEASES
DISPERSIONS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
FLUIDS
GASES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
LUNGS
NEOPLASMS
NONMETALS
ORGANS
POLLUTION
RADIATION HAZARDS
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIOINDUCTION
RADON
RARE GASES
RESIDUES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RISK ASSESSMENT
SMOKES
SOLS
TOBACCO SMOKES