Table 1. Risk of cancer from radon exposure for smokers.
| Radon level | If 1,000 people who smoked were exposed to this level over a lifetimea. . . | The risk of cancer from radon exposure compares tob. . . | What to do: stop smoking and. . . |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 pCi/L | About 260 people could get lung cancer | < 250 times the risk of drowning | Fix your home |
| 10 pCi/L | About 150 people could get lung cancer | < 200 times the risk of dying in a home fire | Fix your home |
| 8 pCi/L | About 120 people could get lung cancer | < 30 times the risk of dying in a fall | Fix your home |
| 4 pCi/L | About 62 people could get lung cancer | < 5 times the risk of dying in a car crash | Fix your home |
| 2 pCi/L | About 32 people could get lung cancer | < 6 times the risk of dying from poison | Consider fixing your home if levels are 2-3.9 pCi/L |
| 1.3 pCi/L | About 20 people could get lung cancer | (Average indoor radon level) | (Reducing radon levels below 2 pCi/L is difficult) |
| 0.4 pCi/L | - | (Average outdoor radon level) |
Adapted from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 64 ) aIf you are a former smoker, your risk may be lower.
b
Comparison data calculated using the 1999-2001 National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.