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HERO ID
7717576
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Younger North Americans are exposed to more radon gas due to occupancy biases within the residential built environment
Author(s)
Simms, JA; Pearson, DD; Cholowsky, NL; Irvine, JL; Nielsen, ME; Jacques, WR; Taron, JM; Peters, CE; Carlson, LE; Goodarzi, AA
Year
2021
Is Peer Reviewed?
1
Journal
Scientific Reports
EISSN:
2045-2322
Volume
11
Issue
1
Page Numbers
6724
Language
English
PMID
33762674
DOI
10.1038/s41598-021-86096-3
Web of Science Id
WOS:000634969500013
Abstract
Residential buildings can concentrate radioactive radon gas, exposing occupants to particle radiation that increases lung cancer risk. This has worsened over time in North America, with newer residences containing greater radon. Using data from 18,971 Canadian households, we calculated annual particle radiation dose rates due to long term residential radon exposure, and examined this as a function of occupant demographics. The current particle radiation dose rate to lungs from residential radon in Canada is 4.08 mSv/y from 108.2 Bq/m3, with 23.4% receiving 100-2655 mSv doses that are known to elevate human cancer risk. Notably, residences built in the twenty-first century are occupied by significantly younger people experiencing greater radiation dose rates from radon (mean age of 46 at 5.01 mSv/y), relative to older groups more likely to occupy twentieth century-built properties (mean age of 53 at 3.45-4.22 mSv/y). Newer, higher radon-containing properties are also more likely to have minors, pregnant women and an overall higher number of occupants living there full time. As younger age-of-exposure to radon equates to greater lifetime lung cancer risk, these data reveal a worst case scenario of exposure bias. This is of concern as, if it continues, it forecasts serious future increases in radon-induced lung cancer in younger people.
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