ADVANCEMENT OF THE PRACTICE
DIRECT FROM CDC ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Radon Outreach: Helping People See an Invisible Risk
Caitlyn Lutfy, MPH
Adela Salame- Alfie, PhD
M. Carol McCurley
basement. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2022b) estimates that 1 in 15 homes have high radon levels.
Editor’s Note: The National Environmental Health Association strives to provide up-to-date and relevant information on environmental health and to build partnerships in the profession. In pursuit of these goals, we feature this column on environmental health services from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in every issue of the Journal . In these columns, authors from CDC’s Water, Food, and Environmental Health Services Branch, as well as guest authors, will share tools, resources, and guidance for environmental health practitioners. The conclusions in these columns are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the o cial position of CDC. Caitlyn Lutfy is a health communication specialist and lead for radon communication eorts. Dr. Adela Salame-Alfie is a health physicist and subject matter expert on radon. Carol McCurley is a lead health educator. All are part of the Radiation Studies Section within the National Center for Environmental Health at CDC.
A Risk Communication Challenge
The good news is that exposure to high lev- els of radon is easily preventable. If people know the risks and how to test, and if nec- essary, reduce radon levels in their homes, they can reduce their risk of developing lung cancer. Homeowners, anyone buying or selling a home or making renovations, and renters can call their state radon oce for information and resources in their area, including a list of qualified radon testers and mitigators. Renters also can work with their property owners to encourage testing. Radon test kits are also available at hardware stores. If testing reveals that a home has dangerous levels of radon above 4 pCi/L, installation of a radon reduction system can reduce radon to safer levels. The bad news is there is a lack of awareness and concern among most people about radon. Many people do not know about radon, its risks, how to test for it, and how to keep radon levels low at home (Ou et al., 2019; Rosenthal, 2011). Even among those who do, because radon is not a visible threat and its risks are not immediate, it is easy to delay radon prevention and control measures. This situation makes radon a risk communication challenge. Raising Awareness CDC works to raise awareness about radon to encourage more people to take action to test for and reduce radon levels in their homes. CDC’s newly updated radon website includes
R adon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. after smoking (U.S. Environmental Protection Agen- cy, 2022a). Lung cancer deaths attributable to radon are preventable through testing and mitigation. Yet there is a lack of awareness and understanding about radon, its risks, and how to prevent radon-associated lung cancer (Vogeltanz-Holm & Schwartz, 2018). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working to help build awareness and understanding and to encourage preven- tative actions among the general public, as well as clinicians. Recent eorts include new communication materials and establishing an
annual Radon Awareness Week during the last week of January. Radon Basics Radon is an odorless and invisible radioac- tive gas released from rocks, soil, and water. Radon can get into homes or buildings through small cracks or holes in foundations and walls, and can build up to unsafe levels. Over time, breathing in high radon levels can cause lung cancer. Any home or building can have cancer- causing levels of radon in it, regardless of where it is located or whether it is new or old, drafty or sealed, or does or does not have a
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