An official website of the United States government.

This is not the current EPA website. To navigate to the current EPA website, please go to www.epa.gov. This website is historical material reflecting the EPA website as it existed on January 19, 2021. This website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work. More information »

Radon

What did the National Academy of Sciences have to say about radon?

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) published its latest analysis of health research on radon, the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR VI) Report in 1999 (see www.epa.gov/radon/health-risk-radon#beir). This is the most comprehensive review effort to date. The Committee was charged with:

  • reviewing all current miner and residential data, as well as all existing cellular-biological data,
  • comparing the dose per unit exposure effects of radon in mines and homes, and
  • examining: 1) interactions between radon exposure and smoking, and 2) any exposure-rate effect (alteration of effect by intensity of exposure).

See www.epa.gov/radon/health-risk-radon  and www.epa.gov/radon/health-risk-radon#beir