Why is radon a health problem?

Transcription

1 Lesson 2 Why is radon a health problem? and lung cancer is largest source of radiation exposure to general public is leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers Only cigarette smoking causes more deaths from lung cancer causes more deaths than secondhand smoke Reducing radon in homes could reduce radon related lung cancers by about 1/3 Home inspectors can help when they measure radon levels accurately Slide 2 1 What do you hear people say about radon? can t really hurt you. The only problem is those government alarmists, who are always trying to scare us about some environmental hazard. There s really nothing to worry about. Have you heard statements like this? Do you agree with this statement? Slide 2 2 Training Program

2 The facts about radon All radon studies confirm the connection between radon exposure and lung cancer Respected national and international organizations agree that radon causes lung cancer American Lung Association American Medical Association American Public Health Association National Academy of Sciences U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention U.S. Environmental Protection Agency World Health Organization Slide 2 3 Can you fill in the numbers? Annual deaths (1995) from lung cancer:??? Total radon related deaths per year:??? Average years of life lost for radon related lung cancer:??? Slide 2 and lung cancer Annual deaths (1995) from lung cancer: 16,00 Total radon related deaths per year: 21,000 (1%) Average years of life lost for radon related lung cancer: 17 Slide 2 5 Training Program

3 How radon harms the lungs gas is inhaled decay products become trapped in the lungs As products decay, some release alpha radiation Radiation damages lung tissue Even very small exposures to radon can cause lung cancer No known safe level of radon causes no immediate symptoms Lung cancer usually occurs 5 to 25 years after exposure Cancer cells spread to other parts of the body Slide 2 6 Lung cancer is deadly The leading cause of cancer death for men and women Kills more people than colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined 60% of people with lung cancer die within 1 year of diagnosis 70 80% die within 2 years of diagnosis Slide 2 7 and other health concerns No evidence that radon causes other respiratory diseases, such as asthma Slide 2 8 Training Program

4 Lung cancer from breathing radon released by water as in showering or washing dishes accounts for 89% of those deaths Cancer deaths from radon in tap water Total 168 cancer deaths per year related to radon in water Lung cancer 89% Stomach cancer 11% Stomach cancer from swallowing water that contains radon accounts for 11% of those deaths Slide 2 9 Match cause with estimated deaths per year Cause 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 21,000 17,00 8,000 3,900 2,800 Drownings Drunk driving Falls in the home 0 Drunk driv ing F alls in the home Drownings Home fires Home fires Slide 2 10 Relative risk: estimated deaths per year 25,000 20,000 15,000 21,000 17,00 10,000 5,000 8,000 3,900 2,800 0 Drunk driving Falls in the home Drownings Home fires Slide 2 11 Training Program

5 Risk factors Duration of exposure Longer exposure time = greater risk Levels of radon Higher levels = greater risk Smoking In combination with radon exposure = greater risk DANGER Lungs at work Slide 2 12 concentrations in the air Average outdoor Average indoor Consider fixing the home Action level: fix the home Picocuries/liter (pci/l) under or above Action level is based on level that can be achieved technically. It is not based on health standards. No known level of radon is safe. Slide 2 13 How common are high radon levels? EPA estimates that 1 in 15 U.S. homes has a radon concentration at or above the action level of pci/l Recall: EPA also estimates that reducing radon in homes could reduce radon related lung cancers by about one third Slide 2 1 Training Program

6 level (pci/l) risk for people who never smoked If 1,000 nonsmokers were exposed to this radon level, the number who could get lung cancer after lifetime exposure* Lung cancer risk equal to** 35 times the risk of dying by drowning 20 times the risk of dying in a home fire times the risk of dying in a fall The risk of dying in a car crash The risk of dying Slide 2 15 from poison risk for smokers level (pci/l) If 1,000 smokers were exposed to this level, the number who could get lung cancer after lifetime exposure* Lung cancer risk equal to** 250 times the risk of dying by drowning 200 times the risk of dying in a home fire 30 times the risk of dying in a fall 5 times the risk of dying in a car crash 6 times the risk Slide of 2 16 dying from poison risk comparison Estimated number of people who could get lung cancer per 1,000 people exposed over a lifetime level (pci/l) People who never smoked People who smoke Slide 2 17 See handout 2 1 Training Program

7 National Health Advisory 2005 Richard Carmona U.S. Surgeon General Indoor radon is the secondleading cause of lung cancer in the United States Breathing it over prolonged periods can present a significant health risk to families all over the country. It s important to know that this threat is completely preventable. can be detected with a simple test and fixed through well established venting techniques. Slide 2 18 Role play activity Two characters Home inspector Client Action Home inspector is trying to persuade a client to have a home tested Client is reluctant Home inspector emphasizes health issues Slide 2 19 After the activity Inspector What arguments did you use to convince the client to have home tested? Could you have been more persuasive? If so, how? Client Did the inspector convince you? Why or why not? Could the inspector have been more persuasive? If so, how? Slide 2 20 Training Program

8 Summary is known to cause lung cancer Estimated radon related deaths each year: 21,000 Reducing radon in homes could reduce radon related lung cancers by about 1/3 EPA action level: pci/l When people breathe in radon and its decay products, radioactive particles get trapped in the lungs As particles decay, they damage lung tissue With long term exposure, damage increases risk of lung cancer Slide 2 21 Summary Chances of developing lung cancer depend on Duration of exposure Level of radon in the home Smoking Greatly increases the risk of developing lung cancer Slide 2 22 Questions? About why radon is a health problem Slide 2 23 Training Program

9 Check your understanding See handout 2 2 Slide 2 2 Training Program