Department of Public Health, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA, USA.
Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Int J Radiat Biol. 2020 Jun;96(6):803-813. doi: 10.1080/09553002.2020.1730013. Epub 2020 Feb 27.
Radiation risk communication is a critical component of radiation protection and the public's understanding of radiation risks and benefits. Risk communication becomes even more complicated when considering cultural and language differences. In the US, many diverse communities face risk communication challenges. We obtained radon testing data to evaluate patterns of radon testing in Allentown, the third largest city in Pennsylvania. Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking and is associated with over 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the US annually. It is estimated that 1 in every 15 homes in the US has elevated radon levels above the recommended action level set by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Allentown has some of the highest reported levels of indoor radon in the country, yet only a small portion of the population has tested their homes. This is true particularly among self-identified Hispanics, who make up nearly half of the city's population. This study seeks to (1) characterize the difference in testing rates between self-identified Hispanics and non-Hispanics in Allentown, (2) quantify the level of radon awareness and knowledge, (3) identify potential obstacles to radon testing among the Allentown population that self-identifies as Hispanic, and (4) determine whether more effective risk communication is needed. Radon test results in Allentown were analyzed to better understand the nature of radon testing. To evaluate radon awareness and knowledge, a cross-sectional study was conducted using a face-to-face survey. This data was informative in assessing testing and mitigation practices, ethnicity, income level, age, education level, homeowner status, zip code and primary language. Ethnicity was an independent predictor of radon awareness and knowledge. Statistically significant differences were found between the number of self-identified Hispanics (39%) and non-Hispanics (84%) who indicated that they had ever heard of radon; 13% of Hispanics and 49% of non-Hispanics knew that they lived in an area with typically high radon levels. There was a statistically significant association between self-reported ethnicity and radon testing with non-Hispanics (43%) more likely to test their homes for radon than Hispanics (32%). Individual and community understanding of the risks of exposure to radiation sources such as radon is dependent upon communication that informs and spurs appropriate action. This study demonstrates the need for culturally appropriate radon risk communication strategies targeted to a Hispanic population. Successful communication will raise awareness and knowledge that can lead to better public health protection.
辐射风险沟通是辐射防护和公众了解辐射风险和益处的关键组成部分。在考虑文化和语言差异时，风险沟通变得更加复杂。在美国，许多不同的社区都面临着风险沟通的挑战。我们获得了氡测试数据，以评估宾夕法尼亚州第三大城市阿伦敦的氡测试模式。氡暴露是仅次于吸烟的第二大肺癌病因，每年导致美国超过 21,000 人死于肺癌。据估计，美国每 15 户家庭中就有 1 户家庭的氡水平高于美国环境保护署设定的建议行动水平。阿伦敦的室内氡水平报告为全国最高，但只有一小部分居民测试了自己的房屋。在自认为是西班牙裔的人中尤其如此，他们几乎占该市人口的一半。这项研究旨在：(1) 描述阿伦敦自认为是西班牙裔和非西班牙裔居民之间测试率的差异；(2) 量化氡意识和知识水平；(3) 确定自认为是西班牙裔的阿伦敦居民进行氡测试的潜在障碍；(4) 确定是否需要更有效的风险沟通。分析了阿伦敦的氡测试结果，以更好地了解氡测试的性质。为了评估氡意识和知识，进行了一项横断面研究，使用面对面调查。该数据有助于评估测试和缓解实践、种族、收入水平、年龄、教育水平、房主身份、邮政编码和主要语言。种族是氡意识和知识的独立预测因素。在曾听说过氡的自认为是西班牙裔（39%）和非西班牙裔（84%）人数之间发现了统计学上的显著差异；13%的西班牙裔和 49%的非西班牙裔知道他们居住在氡水平通常较高的地区。自报种族与氡测试之间存在统计学上的显著关联，非西班牙裔（43%）比西班牙裔（32%）更有可能测试其房屋中的氡。个人和社区对暴露于氡等辐射源的风险的理解取决于告知并促使采取适当行动的沟通。这项研究表明，需要针对西班牙裔人口制定文化上适当的氡风险沟通策略。成功的沟通将提高意识和知识，从而更好地保护公众健康。
