Radon Risk Comparison Charts
(If You Smoke and If You Have Never Smoked)
RADON RISK IF YOU SMOKE Radon Level If 1,000 people who smoked were exposed to this level over a lifetime... The risk of cancer from radon exposure compares to... WHAT TO DO:
Stop smoking and...20 pCi/L About 135 people could get lung cancer 100 times the risk of drowning Fix your home 10 pCi/L About 71 people could get lung cancer 100 times the risk of dying in a home fire Fix your home 8 pCi/L About 57 people could get lung cancer Fix your home 4 pCi/L About 29 people could get lung cancer 100 times the risk of dying in an airplane crash Fix your home 2 pCi/L About 15 people could get lung cancer 2 times the risk of dying in a car crash Consider fixing between 2 and 4 pCi/L 1.3 pCi/L About 9 people could get lung cancer (Average indoor radon level) (Reducing radon levels below 2 pCi/L is difficult.) 0.4 pCi/L About 3 people could get lung cancer (Average outdoor radon level) (Reducing radon levels below 2 pCi/L is difficult.) Note: If you are a former smoker, your risk may be lower.
RADON RISK IF YOU HAVE NEVER SMOKED Radon Level If 1,000 people who never smoked were exposed to this level over a lifetime... The risk of cancer from radon exposure compares to... WHAT TO DO: 20 pCi/L About 8 people could get lung cancer The risk of being killed in a violent crime Fix your home 10 pCi/L About 4 people could get lung cancer Fix your home 8 pCi/L About 3 people could get lung cancer 10 times the risk of dying in an airplane crash Fix your home 4 pCi/L About 2 people could get lung cancer The risk of drowning Fix your home 2 pCi/L About 1 person could get lung cancer The risk of dying in a home fire Consider fixing between 2 and 4 pCi/L 1.3 pCi/L Less than 1 person could get lung cancer (Average indoor radon level) (Reducing radon levels below 2 pCi/L is difficult.) 0.4 pCi/L Less than 1 person could get lung cancer (Average outdoor radon level) (Reducing radon levels below 2 pCi/L is difficult.) Note: If you are a former smoker, your risk may be higher. It's never too late to reduce your risk of lung cancer. Don't wait to test and fix a radon problem.
If you are a smoker, stop smoking.http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/pubs/riskcht.html July 10, 2001
