Re: Radon Education or Hype?

[Tom Mohaupt <tom.mohaupt@WRIGHT.EDU>]

Fellow Rad Safety Professionals,



I viewed the trailer for the video. If anyone has seen the video or read 

about her case, what evidence was presented for the woman's claim that 

her lung cancer was be caused by radon? Apparently she didn't smoke, but 

was she a never smoker or a former smoker? What was her radon 

concentration? What other low order potential lung carcinogens was she 

exposed to, such as second hand smoke (as brought forth by Ruth), 

pulmonary infections, allergies, occupational or domestic chemicals, and 

so on. I doubt these issues are addressed, but without this information 

I can only regard her claim with skepticism. [One of the problems from 

the inception of the radon policy was the morbid, but poignant question: 

"Where are all the dead bodies?" I gather that she is presented to give 

a face to this complex issue.]



Bear in mind that about 10% of lung cancers in men and 15% of lung 

cancers in women occur in never smokers. This is true for both high and 

low radon areas. To apply a blanket statement that a lung cancer in 

never smokers is caused by radon is wrong. Even BEIR VI using the 

(ultra) conservative LNT calculates that IF everyone reduced their radon 

level below the EPA action level, the number of lung cancers 

attributable (i.e. calculated) to radon would decrease by only 1/3. This 

theoretical decrease would not result in a statistical change in overall 

lung cancer incidence or mortality.



In this process of radon education, there is a lot to understand. I've 

read numerous epidemiological studies, books on radon, the EPA 

literature, international literature on action levels, and so on, yet 

still I have more questions than answers. One issue absent from the EPA 

literature and BEIR reports is: How will the effectiveness of the Radon 

policy be measured? I content that it can't be measured in lung cancer 

reduction or lives saved. Although, any other goal would be meaningless.

Tom

My views and observations.



Celia Rajkovich, RRPT wrote:



> Maybe it is hype-as a way for AARST to sell more videos but if it gets 

> people to learn more about radon-it is education.  If you build a 

> windmill farm by someones house-they would want to learn all they 

> could about the hazards; the same with the transmission towers and 

> EMF. Show people a video of health professionals talking about lung 

> cancer associated with radon exposure and hopefully they will become 

> better educated about radon. October 19th -25th is National Radon 

> Action Week.

>

>

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-- 

Thomas Mohaupt, M.S., CHP

Radiation Safety Officer

Wright State University

937-775-2169

tom.mohaupt@wright.edu







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