Element of Risk: The Politics of Radon

By Leonard A. Cole

Book Overview

Radiation, radioactivity, radon: these are words that, since Hiroshima, the Cold War, and Three Mile Island, have conjured fear and fascination for many Americans. The threat of nuclear war, however, was always abstract at best, and the possibility of a meltdown was seen primarily as a localized catastrophe. Yet the danger of radon--an invisible, odorless gas that could seemingly attack any home and afflict its residents with a deadly cancer--struck home in the 1980s when whole neighborhoods were deemed unsafe and homeowners were forced to relocate, often at great expense. But how much of a threat does radon really pose to Americans? Is the government's aggressive policy toward this "silent killer" warranted? Indeed, is there a legitimate threat at all? These are the important questions Leonard A. Cole asks in this provocative and fascinating new book, and his answers are ones that all homeowners will want to understand.
In clear, non-technical language, Cole dispels many of the myths surrounding radon as he makes recommendations for a coherent, reasonable environmental policy toward what is, certainly, a dangerous gas. But at what levels does radon become a health problem? From all the alarmist headlines ("Major Radon Peril Is Declared By U.S." screamed the New York Times in 1988), average Americans would never know that the threat of radon is much debated, among scientists as well as among government officials. They would never know that numerous European countries--with advanced environmental policies--see the radon levels found in homes and apartments as much less of a danger than we do. And they would never know that not even a single lung cancer death can be directly attributed to a radon-contaminated environment. As he carefully traces the development of the U.S.indoor radon policy, Cole illuminates the many scientific uncertainties that lie behind it, and challenges EPA's risk-cost assessment of radon levels. He shows, too, that no epidemiological study has confirmed that homeowners are at great risk, and exposes those who stand to gain from the policy decisions made in Washington. Since it is not caused by any industry, radon has been a politically convenient issue. Under the Reagan administration, for example, an aggressive radon policy proved an easy way to challenge the popular perception of an anti-environmental president. In the end, Cole convincingly argues for less strict radon regulations, and maintains that the average citizen must be involved in the decision-making process, and must be allowed to exercise her own informed judgment.
Thoughtful and timely, Element of Risk illuminates one of the most important public policy issues of our time. It is a book homeowners and taxpayers, scientists and policymakers, will find essential reading.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195093674
• ISBN13: 9780195093674
• Release Date: October 1994
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Required Reading if You Are Worried About Radon

Yes, this book really needs an update, but if you are worried about radon levels in your home, this book is required reading. The author clearly presents the science of radon and its relationship to lung cancer. He thoroughly reviews the data and, most importantly, the uncertainties involved in linking lung cancer rates to radon levels. You will learn that there isn't much disagreement about the scientific data but it has been used to reach widely-varying public policies on acceptable radon levels. He does a fine job of presenting the policy positions of people who think that the EPA 4 pc/l limit is too high, too low, or "just right". The author's sympathies are clearly with those who maintain that the EPA limit is too low, and he argues effectively for using the 10-20 pc/l limit that is the policy in other countries, - specifically Canada, Sweden, and Norway. A good bit of the book is devoted to reviews of the US media coverage of radon issues and the struggles that politicians have had with setting public policy. These sections contain some interesting stories of bureaucratic confusion and mismanagement, but this part of the book is mostly of interest to students of media and political science. My conclusion from reading this book is that you are a non-smoker, you should consider taking action if your long-term (3 months or more) radon levels are above 20 pc/l. Below that level, the health risks are somewhere between low and none. And if you are a smoker, quitting smoking will reduce your chances of getting lung cancer far more than anything you can do about radon.

Objective and Useful

A worthwhile book. For those wanting to learn about radon, it is far better than the "dumbed down" publications the EPA provides to the general audience. Presents several points of view as to the possible radon health threat. The book also provides insight into how one U.S. federal standard (the 4 pCi/L "limit") was set. What this book really needs is an updated edition. A lot more data have been collected since this book was published in 1993.