Using willingness to pay to evaluate the implementation of Canada's residential radon exposure guideline
Jerry M Spiegel1, Daniel Krewski
1Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB. jerry.spiegel@ubc.ca
Background:
The objective of this investigation was to determine the effectiveness of Canada's residential radon exposure guideline in influencing individuals' health protection decisions.
Method:
Homeowners with known exposure levels in a high residential radon area (Winnipeg, Manitoba) were surveyed to document what they had done and spent to reduce their exposure to radon. The 507 respondents were then re-surveyed to elucidate their response to hypothetical scenarios. Logistic regression was used to model risk reduction decisions as a function of exposure and other explanatory variables.
Results:
Homeowners were only likely to have taken action to reduce exposure at levels exceeding 1,100 Bq/m3, well above Canada's guideline of 800 Bq/m3. However, when informed of the guideline, respondents indicated they would act at exposures of 702 Bq/m3.
Interpretation:
The Canadian residential radon exposure guideline, as it has been implemented, has not effectively prompted homeowner actions to reduce exposures to radon.
