Table 7.
Total numbers of deaths from lung cancer that would be averted by various radon policies if they were implemented throughout UK
| Policy | Total No of lung cancer deaths potentially averted every year* |
|---|---|
| New homes, assuming 200 000 built each year | |
| Current government policy in England: installation of basic radon preventive measures in areas with mean indoor radon concentration 52 Bq/m3 or higher†: | |
| By 1 year of policy | 0.5 |
| By 2 years of policy | 2×0.5 |
| Total by 10 years of policy | 5, increasing by 0.5 each year |
| Basic radon preventive measures throughout UK: | |
| By 1 year of policy | 4.4 |
| By 2 years of policy | 2×4.4 |
| Total by 10 years of policy | 44, increasing by 4.4 each year |
| Possible policy for high radon areas, requiring basic preventive measures plus fitting a means of under-floor ventilation such as a radon sump and pipe, together with measurement of radon level after occupation and installation of fan when measurement exceeds action level‡: | |
| By 1 year of policy | 0.03 |
| By 2 years of policy | 2×0.03 |
| Total by 10 years of policy | 0.3, increasing by 0.03 each year |
| Existing homes | |
| Current government policy in England: targeting invitations to measure in areas with mean radon concentration 64 Bq/m3 or higher§ and recommending remediation when measurement >200 Bq/m3, assuming 30% acceptance rate and 20% remediation rate: | |
| After policy fully implemented¶ | 0.9 |
| Effect of targeting invitations to measure in areas with mean indoor radon concentration 60 Bq/m3 or higher and recommending remediation when measurement >100 Bq/m3, assuming 30% acceptance rate and 20% remediation rate: | |
| After policy fully implemented | 2.1 |
| Effect of targeting invitations to measure in areas with mean indoor radon concentration 60 Bq/m3 and recommending remediation when measurement >100 Bq/m3, but with acceptance rate increased from 30% to 60% and remediation rate increased from 20% to 50%: | |
| After policy fully implemented | 10.4 |
*Installing radon preventive measures in new homes or reducing radon concentration in existing homes will avert radon induced lung cancers in every subsequent year.
†At least 3.0% of homes with measurements >200 Bq/m3. Current government policy in England also requires provision for under-floor ventilation, such as a sump, in homes in areas with mean indoor radon concentration 87 Bq/m3 or higher (that is, at least 10% of measurements >200 Bq/m3). At present there is no requirement either to measure the subsequent radon concentration or to activate the extra measures. Therefore such a policy has effectiveness similar to installation of basic measures only, but it has a higher cost. It is therefore not cost effective compared with a policy of requiring only basic preventive measures.
‡Results shown for areas with a mean radon concentration of 90 Bq/m3 or higher, an action level of 100 Bq/m3, and assuming 100% compliance. Lung cancers averted are additional to those averted by basic radon preventive measures.
§At least 5% of homes with measurements >200 Bq/m3.
¶That is, measurement offered in all areas to be targeted and all remediation carried out.