title: Lung cancer deaths from indoor radon and the cost effectiveness and potential of policies to reduce them.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the number of deaths from lung cancer related to radon in the home and to explore the cost effectiveness of alternative policies to control indoor radon and their potential to reduce lung cancer mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cost effectiveness analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  United Kingdom.
  
  
  METHODS
  Epidemiological data on risks from indoor radon and from smoking, vital statistics on deaths from lung cancer, survey information on effectiveness and costs of radon prevention and remediation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Estimated number of deaths from lung cancer related to indoor radon, lifetime risks of death from lung cancer before and after various potential interventions to control radon, the cost per quality adjusted life year (QALY) gained from different policies for control of radon, and the potential of those policies to reduce lung cancer mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean radon concentration in UK homes is 21 becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m(3)). Each year around 1100 deaths from lung cancer (3.3% of all deaths from lung cancer) are related to radon in the home. Over 85% of these arise from radon concentrations below 100 Bq/m(3) and most are caused jointly by radon and active smoking. Current policy requiring basic measures to prevent radon in new homes in selected areas is highly cost effective, and such measures would remain cost effective if extended to the entire UK, with a cost per QALY gained of pound11,400 ( euro12 200; $16,913). Current policy identifying and remediating existing homes with high radon levels is, however, neither cost effective (cost per QALY gained pound36,800) nor effective in reducing lung cancer mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Policies requiring basic preventive measures against radon in all new homes throughout the UK would be cost effective and could complement existing policies to reduce smoking. Policies involving remedial work on existing homes with high radon levels cannot prevent most radon related deaths, as these are caused by moderate exposure in many homes. These conclusions are likely to apply to most developed countries, many with higher mean radon concentrations than the UK.
authors.affiliation: Health Economics Research Centre, Department of Public Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF. alastair.gray@dphpc.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: Alastair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McGale
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Darby
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental / Q000633:toxicity*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000191:economics; D006078:Government Programs / Q000191:economics; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D011886:Radon / Q000633:toxicity*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D011886:Radon