Patterns of indoor radon concentrations, radon-hazard potential, and radon testing on a small geographic scale in Utah.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Currently, there are no publicly-available estimates of indoor radon concentration at scales smaller than the county. Radon-hazard potential soil maps that reflect underlying geologic factors can be created at small geographic scale and linked to residential and census data. We determined the association between residential radon tests and high radon-hazard potential soil at the residential and block group levels using a large Utah-based dataset. We also identified characteristics of block groups with limited tests in the dataset. METHODS: We geocoded a dataset of residential radon tests obtained from 2001 to 2017 by a statewide educational program. We linked each location to maps of radon-hazard potential soil, the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) county radon zones. We also calculated the number of tests conducted in each block group and linked block groups to demographic data from the 2020 United States census. Log-linear and logistic models identified the association between residential home test results and 1) radon-hazard potential soil of each residence, 2) percent of residences on high radon-hazard potential soils in block groups, and 3) EPA's radon zones. We compared demographic characteristics among block groups with ≥5 or <5 residential tests in our dataset. RESULTS: Approximately 42% of homes in the dataset tested ≥4 pCi/L. We found significant positive associations for residential radon test results with 1) residential location on high radon-hazard potential soil and 2) block groups with >0% of residences on high radon-hazard potential soil. EPA radon zones were not associated with residential test results. Block groups with <5 tests had higher than the statewide median percentage of Hispanic residents (OR = 2.46, 95% CI = 1.89-3.21) and were located in rural counties. DISCUSSION: Radon-hazard potential soil has a significant association with residential home radon tests. More efforts are needed to improve radon testing in block groups that are rural and have greater percentages of racial minorities.