United States Environmental Protection Agency Information Resources Management (PM-211A) INTERNATIONAL UPDATE EPA/220/N-93-029 */ Sept./Oct. 1993 \: From the Office of Radiation and Indoor Air WHO Working Group on Indoor Air The World Health Organization (WHO) Working Group Meeting on Indoor Air Quality: A Risk-based Ap- proach to Health Criteria for Radon Indoors, con- vened in Eilat, Israel March 28 - April 4,1993 to assess the significance of health risks associated with indoor radon exposure in order to develop risk management policies and strategies based on health criteria. Advisors from eleven European countries, China, Israel, and the United States were invited to participate. US participants, serving as temporary WHO advisors, included Margo T. Oge, Directorof EPA's Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (ORIA), William H. Farland, Director of EPA's Office of ealth and Environmental Assessment, and Dennis 'agner and Susan Conrath of ORIA's Radon Division. epresentatives from the International Agency for Re- earch on Cancer and the WHO Regional Office for Europe also attended. The Group addressed three main issues: health risks, risk management, and risk commu- nication. In the area of health risks: The Group confirmed the human carcinogenicity of radon and its status as an important public health problem. They reaffirmed the reasonable natureof the linear model for extrapolation of risk from miners to residential popu- lations, and the fact that the uncertainties in radon risk assessment modelling are fewer than those associated with many other environmental carcinogens. They rec- ommended use of the modified BEIR IV model for risk assessment and guideline/standard setting. The advi- sors also determined that smokers are at a higher total risk from radon exposure than nonsmokers since the combined risk of smoking and radon exposure is more than additive and no conclusive evidence exists associ- ating radon with any health effect other than lung cancer. The participants recommended proceeding with the pooled analysis of both miner and indoor radon studies, as well as addressing the magnitude of risk to nonsmokers and the interaction between radon exposure and smoking. They also recommended that future epidemiologicalcase- control studies aimed at quantifying precisely the effect of residential radon exposure should be conducted. The studies should control for significant variables, especially tobacco smoking. They encouraged laboratory investigations of the molecular and cellular effects of alpha-emitters in general and radon in particular, the elucidations of carcinogenic mechanisms of radon, and the construction of biologically-based models. In the area of risk management: The participants concluded that the tools for controlling the risk from indoor radon are not being extensively used and considerable effort is needed to create a proper basis for dealing with this task. They noted that different authorities are in charge of the management of radon risk in different countries since this management involves questions of both radiation protection and indoor air health concerns. They recommended that a comprehensive national radon policy, integrating risk assessment, measurement proto- cols, contractor training, mitigation, and a built-in evalua- tion program be developed in a step-by-step manner to include: identification of potential sources of elevated exposure identification of populations at highest risk • identification of situations with the potential for increased exposure development of a risk management strategy The WHO advisors also recommended the avoidance of construction materials which could be a source of radon, the development of building codes and guidelines for radon-affected areas, and the extension of the risk reduc- tion strategy to schools, workplaces and public buildings, as well as homes. The Group addressed the issue of stressing risk reduction strategies for high-risk individuals while simultaneously addressing risk reduction for the population at large. They endorsed the integration of future radon policy into a global risk management strat- egy, for which various policy tools are developed in a consistent way. In the area of risk communication: The Group agreed that a productive risk communication policy involves testing alternative messages with INFOTERRA/USA National Focal Point (continued on back) Recycled/Recyclable Printed with Soy/Canola Ink on paper that contains at least 5O% recycled fiber ------- (continued from front) appropriate audiences to ensure that such messages are clear, accurate, and effective. Such communication efforts should identify target audiences, enlist sources respected by the target audiences and make use of communications channels available to these sources. The Group's goal for radon risk communication is the provision of accurate scientific information to reduce radon health risks. They recommended that countries collect baseline information on existing attitudes and perceptions about radon before initiating a risk communi- cation program. The linking of communication efforts to key issues, such as the availability of qualified testing services and contractors, and the continuous evaluation and improvement of the risk communication program, were also recommended. International sharing of radon risk communication information was encouraged. --Submitted by Susan Conrath (Radon Division, ORIA) (202) 233-9397 New Books The following books may be checked out from the International Collection at the Headquarters Library: Building Sustainable Communities - Water Qual- ity: Protection and Remediation. The Global Cities Project. 1991. TD365.W381.1991. Caribbean Ecology and Economics. Caribbean Conservation Association. 1991. HC151.Z9E53.1991, Environment and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean: The Role of the World Bank. The World Bank. 1992, HC123.D59.1992, The Greening of World Trade. [A Report to EPA]. The Trade and Environment Committee of the National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology. 1993. EPA/100/R-93-002. The Impact of Ozone-Layer Depletion. GEMS. 1992. TD885.5.O85I47.1992. UNEP/ Marine Mammals. QL713.2.M45.1985. UNEP. May 1985. Journal Articles of Interest "Changing the Recipe." [French Industry accepts its environmental responsibilities]. Environmentrisk. (June 1993): pp.17-19. Clements, J.W. and J.P. Thompson. "Cleaner Produc- tion: An Industrial Example." [Study of a polyethylene plant at Altona, Victoria, Australia.] Journal of Cleaner Production. (1993). Vol.1 No.1: pp.15-19. Forje, John W. "Cultivating New Perspectives on Tropi- cal Forest Utilization and Prospects for the Future." Environmental Education and Information. (July-September 1992). Vol.11 No.3: pp.181-190. Jukofsky, Diane. "Can Marketing Save the Rainforest?" E Magazine. (July/August 1993). Vol.4 No.4: pp.32-39. Khordagui, Hosny and Dhari AI-Ajmi. "Environmental Impact of the Gulf War: An Integrated Preliminary Assessment." Environmental Management. (July/August 1993). Vol.17 No.4: pp.557-562. McCarthy, James E. "Recycling and Reducing Packag- ing Waste: How the United States Compares to Other Countries." Resources, Conservation and Recycling. (April 1993). Vol.8 No.3-4: pp.293-360. Moberg, David. "Sunset for Chlorine?" [Chlorine pollution in the Great Lakes.] E Magazine. (July/August 1993). Vol.4 No.4: 26-31. Myers, N. "Biodiversity and the Precautionary Principle." Ambio. (May 1993). Vol.22 No.2-3: pp.74-79. Rose, Julian. "Croatia: Environmental Effects of War." Environmental Science and Technology. (June 1993). Vol.27No.6: pp.1010-1011. Vernon, Raymond. "Behind the Scenes: How Policymaking in the European Community, Japan, and the United States Affects Global Negotiations." Environment. (June 1993). Vol.35 No.5: pp.13-42. EPA Staff may request copies of articles by sending e-mail to library.lnfoterra, calling (202) 260-5927, or visiting INFOTERRA in the Headquarters Library. UNEP Head Librarian Carol Stiles Reference Librarians Elizabeth Behrendt Robert Hulshof Technician Jill Mottorn (202)260-5917 (202) 260-5927 (202) 260-3638 (202) 260-9357 INFOTERRA is contractor operated and managed by the Office of Information Resources Management (OIRM), Information Management and Services Division (IMSD), Information Sharing Branch. ------- |