• Janet Gaskin, Doug Coyle, Jeff Whyte, and Dan Krewski.
• School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Room 101, 600 Peter Morand Crescent, Ottawa, ON, K1G 5Z3, Canada. jgaskin@uottawa.ca.
• Can J Public Health. 2018 Aug 1; 109 (4): 598-609.

Research QuestionThe 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.InterventionsTwo 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.MethodsData 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.ResultsA 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.ConclusionThe 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.

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