title: The effectiveness of mitigation for reducing radon risk in single-family Minnesota homes.
abstract: Increased lung cancer incidence has been linked with long-term exposure to elevated residential radon. Experimental studies have shown that soil ventilation can be effective in reducing radon concentrations in single-family homes. Most radon mitigation systems in the U.S. are installed by private contractors. The long-term effectiveness of these systems is not well known, since few state radon programs regulate or independently confirm post-mitigation radon concentrations. The effectiveness of soil ventilation systems in Minnesota was measured for 140 randomly selected clients of six professional mitigators. Homeowners reported pre-mitigation radon screening concentrations that averaged 380 Bq m (10.3 pCi L). Long term post-mitigation radon measurements on the two lowest floors show that, even years after mitigation, 97% of these homes have concentrations below the 150 Bq m U.S. Environmental Protection Agency action level. The average post-mitigation radon in the houses was 30 Bq m, an average observed reduction of >90%. If that reduction was maintained over the lifetime of the 1.2 million Minnesotans who currently reside in single-family homes with living space radon above the EPA action level, approximately 50,000 lives could be extended for nearly two decades by preventing radon-related lung cancers.
authors: Physics Department, St. John's University, Collegeville, MN 56321, USA. dsteck@csbsju.edu
authors: Daniel J
authors: DJ
authors: Steck
mesh_terms: D033161:Government Regulation; D006798:Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017149:Private Sector / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011886:Radon / Q000009:adverse effects*; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D017751:Safety Management; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011886:Radon