THE INFLUENCE OF LIFE TABLE CORRECTIONS FOR SMOKERS AND NONSMOKERS ONTHE HEALTH-EFFECTS OF RADON USING THE BEIR-IV METHOD

The BEIR IV report gives graphs and tables that are used to estimate t he risks due to radon (Rn-222) and its decay products. The BEIR IV hyp othesis predicts that the lifetime risks will depend upon the ''normal '' incidence of fatal lung cancers for nonsmokers and smokers and the life expectancies of both groups. This paper examines the influence of recent information on these health risks. The factors considered are a) the life tables for both sexes and for those who never smoked, form erly smoked, are currently light smokers, or are currently heavy smoke rs, and b) the age-dependent fatal lung cancer rates for the same grou ps of people. In general, the calculations indicate that people who ha ve never smoked would have the same risks as those listed in the BEIR IV report as nonsmokers. For males, those who smoke or formerly smoked would have calculated risks that are greater than people who never sm oked; however, for males, the smokers and former smokers considered in this paper have lower calculated risks than the BEIR IV smokers. For females, the heavy smokers examined here would have greater calculated risks than the BEIR IV smokers. The reasons for these differences are presented.