Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.
The following numbers are from the EPA’s site about radon health risks and are intended for reference only.
Radon levels are measured in picoCuries per Liter and expressed as pCi/L. The risk below and comparisons are for exposure to radon at the associated levels for a lifetime. (EPA 402-R-03-003)
Risk of lung cancer if you’ve never smoked:
Prolonged exposure to 2 pCi/L
could result in 4 cases of lung cancer out of 1000 people, which is the same risk as dying from poison.
Prolonged exposure to 4 pCi/L
could result in 7 cases of lung cancer out of 1000 people, which is the same risk as dying in a car crash.
Prolonged exposure to 10 pCi/L
could result in 18 cases of lung cancer out of 1000 people, which is the 20 times the risk as dying in a home fire.
Prolonged exposure to 20 pCi/L
could result in 36 cases of lung cancer out of 1000 people, which is 35 times the risk of drowning.
The News is Much Worse for Smokers
Prolonged exposure to 2 pCi/L
could result in 32 cases of lung cancer out of 1000 people, which is 6 times the risk as dying from poison.
Prolonged exposure to 4 pCi/L
could result in 62 cases of lung cancer out of 1000 people, which is 5 times the risk as dying in a car crash.
Prolonged exposure to 10 pCi/L
could result in 150 cases of lung cancer out of 1000 people, which is the 200 times the risk as dying in a home fire.
Prolonged exposure to 20 pCi/L
could result in 260 cases of lung cancer out of 1000 people, which is 250 times the risk of drowning.