Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Radon Toxicity Treatment and Management
Generally, the most effective methods to reduce the risk of lung cancer are smoking cessation and radon mitigation.
No effective communitywide screening methods are available for medical prevention or early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer (radon-induced or otherwise). Routine chest radiographs and sputum cytology are ineffective for screening lung cancer associated with cigarette smoking and would presumably be ineffective for screening lung cancer associated with radon as well. The most effective methods of prevention are reduction of radon exposure and modification of other simultaneous risk factors for lung cancer, such as smoking. The only long-term solution for reducing the risk of lung cancer is smoking cessation, coupled with detection and mitigation of high radon levels.
The potential risk of cancer due to radon is often underestimated by the public; this bias might discourage assessment and abatement measures in the home.
Several studies have noted optimistic biases in the public's assessment of the risk due to radon. A New Jersey study found that this bias might discourage testing and subsequent implementation of control measures. In Maine, homeowners were found to greatly underestimate the potential risk, and abatement behavior was not significantly related to potential risk.
Primary care physicians and public health professionals should promote public awareness so that the radon problem is seen in the proper perspective, leading to appropriate mitigation action when indicated. Physicians and public health officials should therefore test their own homes and offices to relate their experience to others and to provide guidance on how to carry out the testing.
