Exposure to radon

Malignant neoplasm of the lung - Exposure to radon Factor

Radon is a naturally occurring chemically inert gas that is ubiquitous in the environment.  It is a member of the radioactive chain of compounds resulting from the decay of uranium to lead.  Radon itself does not pose a significant health risk, but decay results in a series of short-lived radioactive products. These decay products, also called radon daughters, may be deposited in the human respiratory tract if inhaled, causing damage to the tracheobronchial epithelium. Prolonged and high levels of exposure to radon have been documented to cause lung cancer in underground miners, especially uranium miners.

Concentration of radon progeny in underground mines is expressed in working levels (WLs).  1 WL is any combination of radon progeny in 1 L of air that ultimately releases 1.3 x 10⁵ MeV of alpha energy during decay. Exposure to 1 WL for 170 hours equals 1 working level month (WLM) of exposure.

The concentration of radon in a typical home is equivalent to a radon progeny level of 0.005 WL (about 50 to 100 times lower than the lowest WL found in mines).  In an average home, yearly exposure results in approximately 0.2 WLM or a lifetime cumulative exposure of 10-20 WLM.¹

Last reviewed for CCPS 18 July 2007.

Preliminary questions [5009]

31717 there is some evidence that exposure to radon may be a factor in the development of the condition under consideration.

31721 the veteran was exposed to at least 120 Working Level Month (WLM) of radon in an enclosed space at some time.

31722 the veteran was exposed to at least 120 Working Level Month (WLM) of radon in an enclosed space before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

31718  the veteran has established the causal connection between exposure to radon and VEA service for the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the lung.

31719   the veteran has established the causal connection between exposure to radon and operational service for the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the lung.

or

31720   the veteran has established the causal connection between exposure to radon and eligible service for the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the lung.

Clinical onset and operational service [31719]

34301 operational service made a material contribution to the veteran's exposure to at least 120 Working Level Month (WLM) of radon in an enclosed space before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

31724 where operational service made a material contribution to the veteran's exposure to at least 120 Working Level Month (WLM) of radon in an enclosed space, the first such service-related exposure to radon occurred at least five years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

Clinical onset and eligible service [31720]

31723 eligible service made a material contribution to the veteran's exposure to at least 120 Working Level Month (WLM) of radon in an enclosed space before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

31725 where eligible service made a material contribution to the veteran's exposure to at least 120 Working Level Month (WLM) of radon in an enclosed space, the first such service-related exposure to radon occurred at least ten years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.