title: Radon, smoking, and lung cancer: the need to refocus radon control policy.
abstract: Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, and the risk is significantly higher for smokers than for nonsmokers. More than 85% of radon-induced lung cancer deaths are among smokers. The most powerful approach for reducing the public health burden of radon is shaped by 2 overarching principles: public communication efforts that promote residential radon testing and remediation will be the most cost effective if they are primarily directed at current and former smokers; and focusing on smoking prevention and cessation is the optimal strategy for reducing radon-induced lung cancer in terms of both public health gains and economic efficiency. Tobacco control policy is the most promising route to the public health goals of radon control policy.
authors: Department of Health Policy, School of Public Health and Health Services, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20006, USA. planz@gwu.edu
authors: Paula M
authors: PM
authors: Lantz
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Mendez
authors: Martin A
authors: MA
authors: Philbert
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011886:Radon / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016540:Smoking Cessation
chemical_list: D011886:Radon