Cost-benefit analyses of radon mitigation projects

Journal of Environmental Management
Mads Lyngby Petersen, Thommy Larsen

Abstract

Radon is a radioactive gas that enters buildings and is known to cause lung cancer. Danish building regulation recommends simple remedial measures for radon levels between 200 and 400 Bqm(-3), and more effective methods for levels above 400 Bqm(-3). The Danish National Board of Health found that radon levels in 4.6% of the dwellings were above the reference level, and that the distribution of radon levels in Danish one-family houses is lognormal with a geometric mean of 57.7 Bqm(-3) and a geometric standard deviation of 2.28. The purpose of the paper is to present a cost-benefit analysis of a possible future governmental intervention against radon in existing Danish one-family houses. In other words, it seeks to answer the question: is it socio-economically worthwhile to avert lung cancer deaths by reducing radon levels in the most exposed dwellings? The results indicate that an intervention based on the anti-radon measures recommended by the Danish building regulation would, if implemented, avert less than 30 deaths each year. By comparison, a total of 300 people die from radon exposure annually in Denmark. The total costs exceed the valuated health benefits by euro 62 million (6% discount rate). It is concluded that it is not...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jan 19, 2013·American Journal of Public Health·Paula M LantzMartin A Philbert
Jul 17, 2010·Journal of Hazardous Materials·Martin Jiránek, Katerina Rovenská

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