Cargando…
Predictors of Indoor Radon Concentrations in Pennsylvania, 1989–2013
BACKGROUND: Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer worldwide. Most indoor exposure occurs by diffusion of soil gas. Radon is also found in well water, natural gas, and ambient air. Pennsylvania has high indoor radon concentrations; buildings are often tested during real estate transactions...
Autores principales: | , , , , , , |
---|---|
Formato: | Online Artículo Texto |
Lenguaje: | English |
Publicado: |
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
2015
|
Materias: | |
Acceso en línea: | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4629742/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25856050 http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1409014 |
_version_ | 1782398622430658560 |
---|---|
author | Casey, Joan A. Ogburn, Elizabeth L. Rasmussen, Sara G. Irving, Jennifer K. Pollak, Jonathan Locke, Paul A. Schwartz, Brian S. |
author_facet | Casey, Joan A. Ogburn, Elizabeth L. Rasmussen, Sara G. Irving, Jennifer K. Pollak, Jonathan Locke, Paul A. Schwartz, Brian S. |
author_sort | Casey, Joan A. |
collection | PubMed |
description | BACKGROUND: Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer worldwide. Most indoor exposure occurs by diffusion of soil gas. Radon is also found in well water, natural gas, and ambient air. Pennsylvania has high indoor radon concentrations; buildings are often tested during real estate transactions, with results reported to the Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP). OBJECTIVES: We evaluated predictors of indoor radon concentrations. METHODS: Using first-floor and basement indoor radon results reported to the PADEP between 1987 and 2013, we evaluated associations of radon concentrations (natural log transformed) with geology, water source, building characteristics, season, weather, community socioeconomic status, community type, and unconventional natural gas development measures based on drilled and producing wells. RESULTS: Primary analysis included 866,735 first measurements by building, with the large majority from homes. The geologic rock layer on which the building sat was strongly associated with radon concentration (e.g., Axemann Formation, median = 365 Bq/m(3), IQR = 167–679 vs. Stockton Formation, median = 93 Bq/m(3), IQR = 52–178). In adjusted analysis, buildings using well water had 21% higher concentrations (β = 0.191, 95% CI: 0.184, 0.198). Buildings in cities (vs. townships) had lower concentrations (β = –0.323, 95% CI: –0.333, –0.314). When we included multiple tests per building, concentrations declined with repeated measurements over time. Between 2005 and 2013, 7,469 unconventional wells were drilled in Pennsylvania. Basement radon concentrations fluctuated between 1987 and 2003, but began an upward trend from 2004 to 2012 in all county categories (p < 0.001), with higher levels in counties having ≥ 100 drilled wells versus counties with none, and with highest levels in the Reading Prong. CONCLUSIONS: Geologic unit, well water, community, weather, and unconventional natural gas development were associated with indoor radon concentrations. Future studies should include direct environmental measurement of radon, as well as building features unavailable for this analysis. CITATION: Casey JA, Ogburn EL, Rasmussen SG, Irving JK, Pollak J, Locke PA, Schwartz BS. 2015. Predictors of indoor radon concentrations in Pennsylvania, 1989–2013. Environ Health Perspect 123:1130–1137; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1409014 |
format | Online Article Text |
id | pubmed-4629742 |
institution | National Center for Biotechnology Information |
language | English |
publishDate | 2015 |
publisher | National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences |
record_format | MEDLINE/PubMed |
spelling | pubmed-46297422015-11-25 Predictors of Indoor Radon Concentrations in Pennsylvania, 1989–2013 Casey, Joan A. Ogburn, Elizabeth L. Rasmussen, Sara G. Irving, Jennifer K. Pollak, Jonathan Locke, Paul A. Schwartz, Brian S. Environ Health Perspect Research BACKGROUND: Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer worldwide. Most indoor exposure occurs by diffusion of soil gas. Radon is also found in well water, natural gas, and ambient air. Pennsylvania has high indoor radon concentrations; buildings are often tested during real estate transactions, with results reported to the Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP). OBJECTIVES: We evaluated predictors of indoor radon concentrations. METHODS: Using first-floor and basement indoor radon results reported to the PADEP between 1987 and 2013, we evaluated associations of radon concentrations (natural log transformed) with geology, water source, building characteristics, season, weather, community socioeconomic status, community type, and unconventional natural gas development measures based on drilled and producing wells. RESULTS: Primary analysis included 866,735 first measurements by building, with the large majority from homes. The geologic rock layer on which the building sat was strongly associated with radon concentration (e.g., Axemann Formation, median = 365 Bq/m(3), IQR = 167–679 vs. Stockton Formation, median = 93 Bq/m(3), IQR = 52–178). In adjusted analysis, buildings using well water had 21% higher concentrations (β = 0.191, 95% CI: 0.184, 0.198). Buildings in cities (vs. townships) had lower concentrations (β = –0.323, 95% CI: –0.333, –0.314). When we included multiple tests per building, concentrations declined with repeated measurements over time. Between 2005 and 2013, 7,469 unconventional wells were drilled in Pennsylvania. Basement radon concentrations fluctuated between 1987 and 2003, but began an upward trend from 2004 to 2012 in all county categories (p < 0.001), with higher levels in counties having ≥ 100 drilled wells versus counties with none, and with highest levels in the Reading Prong. CONCLUSIONS: Geologic unit, well water, community, weather, and unconventional natural gas development were associated with indoor radon concentrations. Future studies should include direct environmental measurement of radon, as well as building features unavailable for this analysis. CITATION: Casey JA, Ogburn EL, Rasmussen SG, Irving JK, Pollak J, Locke PA, Schwartz BS. 2015. Predictors of indoor radon concentrations in Pennsylvania, 1989–2013. Environ Health Perspect 123:1130–1137; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1409014 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 2015-04-09 2015-11 /pmc/articles/PMC4629742/ /pubmed/25856050 http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1409014 Text en http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/ Publication of EHP lies in the public domain and is therefore without copyright. All text from EHP may be reprinted freely. Use of materials published in EHP should be acknowledged (for example, “Reproduced with permission from Environmental Health Perspectives”); pertinent reference information should be provided for the article from which the material was reproduced. Articles from EHP, especially the News section, may contain photographs or illustrations copyrighted by other commercial organizations or individuals that may not be used without obtaining prior approval from the holder of the copyright. |
spellingShingle | Research Casey, Joan A. Ogburn, Elizabeth L. Rasmussen, Sara G. Irving, Jennifer K. Pollak, Jonathan Locke, Paul A. Schwartz, Brian S. Predictors of Indoor Radon Concentrations in Pennsylvania, 1989–2013 |
title | Predictors of Indoor Radon Concentrations in Pennsylvania, 1989–2013 |
title_full | Predictors of Indoor Radon Concentrations in Pennsylvania, 1989–2013 |
title_fullStr | Predictors of Indoor Radon Concentrations in Pennsylvania, 1989–2013 |
title_full_unstemmed | Predictors of Indoor Radon Concentrations in Pennsylvania, 1989–2013 |
title_short | Predictors of Indoor Radon Concentrations in Pennsylvania, 1989–2013 |
title_sort | predictors of indoor radon concentrations in pennsylvania, 1989–2013 |
topic | Research |
url | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4629742/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25856050 http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1409014 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT caseyjoana predictorsofindoorradonconcentrationsinpennsylvania19892013 AT ogburnelizabethl predictorsofindoorradonconcentrationsinpennsylvania19892013 AT rasmussensarag predictorsofindoorradonconcentrationsinpennsylvania19892013 AT irvingjenniferk predictorsofindoorradonconcentrationsinpennsylvania19892013 AT pollakjonathan predictorsofindoorradonconcentrationsinpennsylvania19892013 AT lockepaula predictorsofindoorradonconcentrationsinpennsylvania19892013 AT schwartzbrians predictorsofindoorradonconcentrationsinpennsylvania19892013 |