Colorado School of Public Health, 13001 E 17th Pl, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
Educational Access Group, Denver, CO, 80204, USA.
J Environ Radioact. 2022 Sep;250:106910. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106910. Epub 2022 May 30.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that enters homes through cracks in the foundation where accumulated levels can cause lung cancer. Within the United States (U.S.), state level radon reduction strategies rely on education and outreach to motivate people to test and mitigate their home. Only about 5% of the housing units in Colorado, U.S. have been tested for radon. This study looks at the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System (BRFSS) in Colorado to identify distinct groups of people using Latent Class Analysis, and compares radon awareness, testing, and mitigation to understand underlying differences of radon reduction behaviors using path models. Five classes were identified: 1) Wealthy Young Families, 2) Older Singles, 3) Empty Nesters, 4) Smokers, and 5) Struggling Young Families. Significant differences in responses to radon survey questions existed across groups in which Struggling Young Families were the least likely to be aware of radon, have tested their home for radon, and have their home mitigated. Average radon awareness, testing, and mitigation appeared to be influenced by financial stress. Results from this study can be used to tailor future radon interventions and policy initiatives to enhance equity of radon reduction behaviors including legal framework to ensure radon mitigation takes place in rental properties.
氡是一种天然存在的放射性气体，通过地基裂缝进入房屋，积累到一定程度会导致肺癌。在美国，州一级的氡减排策略依赖于教育和宣传，以促使人们测试和减轻家中的氡含量。在美国科罗拉多州，只有大约 5%的住房单元接受过氡测试。本研究利用潜在类别分析方法，对 2012 年科罗拉多州行为风险因素监测系统（BRFSS）进行了研究，以确定不同的人群类别，并比较氡的认识、测试和缓解情况，以了解使用路径模型的氡减排行为的潜在差异。确定了五个类别：1）富有的年轻家庭，2）单身老年人，3）空巢老人，4）吸烟者，5）挣扎中的年轻家庭。在对氡调查问题的回答方面，不同群体之间存在显著差异，其中挣扎中的年轻家庭最不可能意识到氡的存在，最不可能对家中的氡进行测试，也最不可能对其进行缓解。平均而言，氡的认识、测试和缓解似乎受到经济压力的影响。本研究的结果可用于调整未来的氡干预和政策举措，以增强氡减排行为的公平性，包括确保在出租物业中进行氡缓解的法律框架。
