Re: PA Radon

[tmohaupt@wright.edu]

Bill,

Your point is well taken.   The importance is evident in the SEER 
report data for lung and bronchus cancers.  Utah has a large 
population of non-smokers with probably medium to high levels 
of radon.  It ranks as no. 51 with a lung/bronchus cancer rate of 
33.2/100,000.  Number 50 is Hawaii, which probably has relatively low 
concentrations of radon.  Utah's lung/bronchus cancer rate is 1.44 
lower than Hawaii's.

I have some questions that have been bugging me for a while relating to
radon.  Maybe you can help with them.
(1)  Has anyone evaluated whether childhood / adult pulmonary 
problems (e.g., asthma, pneumonia, frequent congestion associated 
with recurrent colds and bronchitis) have been associated with lung cancer?
(2)  Has anyone compiled a complete or near complete list of potential 
carcinogens to which the miner populations have been exposed?
(3)  I know it would be impossible to obtain reliable data, but many 
of the people who smoke marijuana and other illegal drugs do not 
smoke cigarettes.  Yes, and some don't inhale.  Have illegal drugs 
been added to the list of possible risk/confounding factors?  The 
exposure frequency would be much less than smoking, but the impact of 
the drug would be much greater.
(4)  I've seen data that indicates that smoking causes 85% to 95% of 
lung cancers.  But I've never seen the data with error bars.  Can you 
supply the percentage of lung cancers with the associated +/- %.

I believe, you and I are seeking the same information - an accurate 
description of reality.  The model that radon causes a small 
percentage of lung cancers may be right or it may be wrong.   Many 
times throughout history, established models have been proven wrong.
Epicycles and geocentricity endured in medieval astronomy for 
hundreds of years.  Early radiologists thought radiation exposure at 
high levels would not cause harm. 

I believe the model of radon in the home is far more complex than just 
radon and smoking.  Millions of woodcrafting hobbyists work amid clouds 
of sawdust and organic vapors in their basement with no respiratory 
protection.  I remember the office environment in the early '80s.  
The air quality from other people smoking was horrible.  

Perhaps many Radsafers have pondered the same questions or had the 
same reservations.  
Thank-you for your kind consideration.
Tom
Just some of my opinions.



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Tom Mohaupt, MS, CHP
Wright State University
Radiation Safety Officer

Voice:  (937) 775-2169
Fax:  (937) 775-3301
E-mail:  tmohaupt@wright.edu
Address:  104 Health Sciences Bldg, Wright State University
          Dayton, OH 45435
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The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html