Dual Home Screening and Tailored Environmental Feedback to Reduce Radon and Secondhand Smoke An Exploratory Study

• Published in: Journal of environmental health Vol. 76; no. 6; pp. 156 - 161
• Main Authors: Hahn, Ellen J., Rayens, Mary Kay, Kercsmar, Sarah E., Adkins, Sarah M., Wright, Ashton Potter, Robertson, Heather E., Rinker, Gwendolyn
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Environmental Health Association 01-01-2014
• Subjects: Adult; ADVANCEMENT OF THE SCIENCE; Air pollution; Analysis; Attitude to Health; Behavior; Cardiovascular disease; Colleges & universities; Councils; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental protection; Female; Health aspects; Health risk assessment; Health risks; Housing - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - etiology; Lung Neoplasms - psychology; Male; Middle Aged; Mortality; Nicotine; Outdoor air quality; Parents & parenting; Passive smoking; Public health; Radon; Radon - analysis; Radon - poisoning; Risk; Smoking; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tobacco smoke; Tobacco Smoke Pollution - adverse effects; Tobacco Smoke Pollution - analysis; United States > US
• ISSN: 0022-0892

Combined exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) and radon increases lung cancer risk 10-fold. The authors assessed the feasibility and impact of a brief home screening and environmental feedback intervention to reduce radon and SHS (Freedom from Radon and Smoking in the Home [FRESH]) and measured perceived risk of lung cancer and synergistic risk perception (SHS x radon). Participants (N= 50) received home radon and SHS kits and completed baseline surveys. Test results were shared using an intervention guided by the Teachable Moment Model. Half of the participants completed online surveys two months later. Most (76%) returned the radon test kits; 48% returned SHS kits. Of the returned radon test kits, 26% were >4.0 pCi/L. Of the returned SHS kits, 38% had nicotine >.1 μg/m³. Of those with high radon, more than half had contacted a mitigation specialist or planned contact. Of those with positive air nicotine, 75% had adopted smoke-free homes. A significant increase occurred in perceived risk for lung cancer and synergistic risk perception after FRESH.