Utility gains from reductions in the modifiable burden of lung cancer attributable to residential radon in Canada.
RESEARCH QUESTION
The objective of this analysis is to estimate the modifiable burden of disease according to the annual number of lung cancer deaths prevented and the associated period gain in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) for the 2012 populations in Canada from reductions in residential radon exposures.


INTERVENTIONS
Two postulated interventions for residential radon mitigation in new construction are assessed, corresponding to a 50% reduction and an 85% reduction in radon nationally, in the provinces/territories, and in 17 census metropolitan areas in Canada.


METHODS
Data were derived from two recent Canadian radon surveys conducted by the Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, along with Canadian mortality and quality of life data. Analyses adopted a lifetime horizon and a discount rate of 1.5%. A period life-table analysis was conducted using age- and sex-specific all-cause and lung cancer mortality rates, adjusted for smoking, and the BEIR VI exposure-age-concentration model for radon-attributable risk of lung cancer mortality.


RESULTS
A reduction in residential radon by 50% could prevent 681 lung cancer deaths, associated with a gain of 15,445 QALYs in the Canadian population at a discount rate of 1.5%; a reduction in radon by 85% could prevent 1263 lung cancer deaths, associated with a gain of 26,336 QALYs. On a per population basis, the Yukon was estimated to benefit most from radon mitigation.


CONCLUSION
The magnitude of QALY gains in Canada estimated under the two radon mitigation scenarios is appreciable but varies considerably across provinces due to variability in indoor radon concentrations and smoking rates.
['Gaskin|Janet|J|0000-0001-5326-4921', 'Coyle|Doug|D|', 'Whyte|Jeff|J|', 'Krewski|Dan|D|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor D002170:Canada D002648:Child D002675:Child, Preschool D005260:Female D006798:Housing D006801:Humans D007223:Infant D007231:Infant, Newborn D008175:Lung Neoplasms D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years D011886:Radon D012907:Smoking D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D055815:Young Adult
Lung cancer Radon Quality-adjusted life years Exposure mitigation Life tables