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Radon and lung cancer: a cost-effectiveness analysis
E S Ford1, A E Kelly, S M Teutsch
1National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. esf2@cdc.gov
American Journal of Public Health
|March 17, 1999
Summary
Targeted radon testing and mitigation strategies are more cost-effective for preventing lung cancer deaths than universal approaches. High-risk area screening offers significant savings per life-year saved.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Public Health Policy
- Cancer Prevention
Background:
- Residential radon exposure is a significant risk factor for lung cancer in the United States.
- Current recommendations for radon testing and mitigation vary, impacting public health outcomes and resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of general (universal) versus targeted residential radon testing and mitigation strategies.
- To identify optimal approaches for preventing radon-associated lung cancer deaths in the US.
Main Methods:
- A decision-tree model was employed to conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis.
- The model simulated scenarios for radon screening and mitigation to prevent lung cancer deaths.
Main Results:
- Universal radon screening and mitigation at 4 pCi/L cost approximately $3 million per lung cancer death prevented.
- Targeted strategies focusing on high-risk geographic areas reduced costs to about $2 million per death prevented.
- Further cost reductions were observed with confirmatory testing, with targeted approaches showing greater cost-effectiveness per life-year saved.
Conclusions:
- Targeted radon testing and mitigation strategies present a more cost-effective alternative to current universal recommendations.
- These findings suggest a need to reconsider national radon policy for improved public health impact and resource management.