Re: EPA Action Level for Radon

[William V Lipton <liptonw@dteenergy.com>]

I highly recommend the book, "Element of Risk : The Politics of Radon,"
by Leonard A. Cole.  Published by the American Association for the Advancement of
Science,  this book provides a thorough and objective account of the political
maneuvering behind the current radon action levels.  Its description of the Montclair, NJ
fiasco is a case study in how to spend a fortune and not protect public health.

The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
It's not about dose, it's about trust.

Bill Lipton
liptonw@dteenergy.com


DWhitfil@kdhe.state.ks.us wrote:

> You will need to give "Technical Support Document for the 1992 Citizen's
> Guide to Radon," EPA 400-R-92-011, May 1992, a read. Just a quick
> introductory scan:
>
> Page 1-1, Background on the 1986 Citizen's Guide
>
> "The recommendations in 1986 were based primarily on limited experience
> with homes whose indoor air had been contaminated with radon from uranium
> mill tailings. Research in these homes showed that most could be mitigated
> consistently to an average indoor radon level of 4 picocuries per liter (4
> pCi/L). Based on this technology limitation, EPA established 4 pCi/L as the
> action level at which people should fix their homes."
>
> Page 1-2, Indoor Radon Abatement Act (IRAA)
>
> "Section 301 of the Act establishes the national long-term goal that indoor
> air be as free of radon as ambient air outside of buildings."
>
> "Congress provided specific guidance on the scope of the revised Citizen's
> Guide in section 303, requiring EPA to provide a "series of action levels
> with a description of the associated health risks" to ensure that the
> public understands that 4 pCi/L is not a safe level of exposure and that a
> significant health risk exists at levels below 4 pCi/L."
>
> Page 2-1, Estimation of Risks, Overview
>
> "Using the modified BEIR IV model, EPA estimates that the number of lung
> cancer deaths per year in the U.S. due to residential radon exposures is
> approximately 14,000, with an uncertainty range of 7,000 to 30,000. This
> estimate is based on the Census Bureau's estimate of 250 million people for
> the residential U.S. population as of October 1, 1990."
>
> Here are some links that may be of interest:
>
> http://www.aarst.com/aarst/postate.html
>
> http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/pubs/physic.html#HR1
>
> It started with a legitimate concern for those that had homes built on top
> of mill tailings, then pop, whoosh.. and this djinni was not going back in
> that bottle, especially after Congress got a hold of it!
>
> DJWhitfill
>
> Opinions expressed are mine and do not reflect official policies or
> positions of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
>
>
>

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