Re: Radon therapy versus questionable medical uses -Reply

[Martin_Haas@notes.ymp.gov]

I find agreement with much of what you indicated; however, you may wish to
alter your comparison:
"-- my main concern is that we are scaring the wits
out of people about radon in their homes when we can say with no
measurable confidence that radon at residential levels has any more
effect on a person's health than eating peanut butter on a regular
basis."
There may be sufficient concern due to isolated reactions to peanut butter
to ban its distribution on airlines.
I would also add that before anyone pays for home improvements to address
the "radon risk" issue, that the question of risk compared
to other potential hazards should be considered.  For example, based on
location, home improvements may be much more
cost effective in the prevention of burglary.

martin_haas@notes.ymp.gov




Michael S Ford <MFORD@pantex.com> on 10/16/98 01:35:23 PM

Please respond to radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu

To:   Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
cc:    (bcc: Martin Haas/YM/RWDOE)
Subject:  Radon therapy versus questionable medical uses -Reply




Bill,

>Michael,
>
>I personally think the weight of the evidence is stronger to support
>the assertion that exposure to radon in mines produces lung
>cancer versus the evidence you cite to support its medicinal
>properties.  Are you  familiar with the Denver Radium Service's
>claims in the early 1900s....
>

First of all, on what basis do you state (in Subject) that current radon
therapy constitutes a questionable medical use? How much have
you investigated this?  I would be very interested in knowing.

Secondly, I am familiar with the Denver Radium Service.  Cocaine
was also legally available in the early 1900s.  The problem with your
comparison is that radon therapy is STILL being used throughout
the world TODAY for medicinal purposes.  You can scoff at the
practice, but it does not change the facts.

Frankly, I find the fact that radon investigators do not delve into
(read: ignore) the possibility that radon exposures may NOT be
harmful in a treatment setting to be a bit unsettling.  How large does
a study group have to be for the FDA to approve a new
pharmaceutical for clinical use?  If you could do the same with
radon in a Russian setting, wouldn't that shorten the whole query
into radon at residential levels?

I wouldn't hesitate to agree that U miners suffered lung cancer due to
radon exposures acting synergistically with a whole realm of other
causal factors.  Thus far, attempting to attribute U miner lung cancer
to ONLY radon exposure has been an exercise in fantasy, not
science.

Will the results of your Iowa studies demonstrate a strong link
between radon concentrations and lung cancer incidence?  Or will
further studies be required?
>
>It would be interesting to take a poll of radsfers to see how many
>drink water from radium vitalizers versus test their home for radon.
>We would have to modify the question a bit concerning testing to
>also determine why they test.  Perhaps some individuals seek out
>homes with high radon concentrations for their therapeutic value.
>
I didn't know you could still get a vitalizer!  Do you have one you'd
like to sell? I never have had any interest in having my house tested
for radon.  Since the EPA established the 4 pCi/L limit primarily
based on *technological capabilities,* the need for doing so did not
seem too pressing.

Bill, while I may come across to you (and others) as some whacko
who thinks everyone should be taking big snoots of radon every
chance they get -- my main concern is that we are scaring the wits
out of people about radon in their homes when we can say with no
measurable confidence that radon at residential levels has any more
effect on a person's health than eating peanut butter on a regular
basis.  And yet, we spend millions of dollars a year and have entire
bureaucracies devoted to *protecting people from radon.*

We're raiding their wallets and protecting no one.  IMHO.
Warmest Regards,
Michael Ford
TRAB
mford@pantex.com
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