A Systematic Review of Radon Risk Perception, Awareness, and Knowledge: Risk Communication Options

Abstract

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking, and research on individual risk perception of radon is crucial to prevent its health effects. In this work, we aimed to systematically review the scientific literature that has analyzed radon risk perception, awareness, and knowledge to provide insight on communication actions. For this purpose, following the PRISMA 2020 statement, we searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science, focusing on articles published since 2010. After the screening process, we included 40 articles, of which 5 explored only knowledge, 11 added risk perception, 11 further investigated the willingness to make radon measurements, and 13 examined the full cycle of prevention, including risk mitigation actions. Many articles performed a quantitative assessment of the relationship between knowledge/awareness/perception and actions such as radon testing and remediation, showing positive associations and providing interesting elements for evaluating interventions. Furthermore, citizen science actions described by some studies could be crucial for enhancing community self-sufficiency, responsibility, and the quality of preventive actions. To conclude, risk communication can play a key role in making risk prevention possible by reducing exposure, and a multidisciplinary approach, involving constant collaboration with different experts, is essential.

Predicting individuals’ preventive practices against Radon indoor exposure in Saudi Arabia: a cross sectional study

“…Moreover, the disadvantage faced by renters, highlighted in Davis et al [32], correlates with the lower engagement in preventive practices observed in our non-homeowner participants. This highlights a disparity that could be mitigated through policy-level interventions, a perspective that aligns with the findings from both Cori et al [33] and Unni et al [28], which advocate for broader legislative support in public health initiatives. This study reinforces the existing narrative that while knowledge and perceptions are foundational to preventive health behaviours, the addition of self-efficacy is crucial [28,32,33].…”

Who worries about microplastics? The relative importance of personal values and individual risk judgements / ¿A quién le preocupan los microplásticos? La importancia relativa de los valores personales y los juicios individuales de riesgo

“…Bearth et al (2017) argue that the perceived artificiality of a risk source enhances concern, and that this tends to be the case for microplastics. Research from other domains supports this line of argumentation insofar that radon radiation has been shown to be perceived as less risky than other sources of radiation (Halpern & Warner, 1994), which could be because radon is viewed as being of natural origin (Cori et al, 2022). The perception of microplastics as being artificial and human-caused might offer an explanation of why microplastics were seen as having a strong moral component in the current sample.…”

“…Bearth et al (2017) sostienen que la artificialidad percibida de una fuente de riesgo aumenta la preocupación, y que este tiende a ser el caso de los microplásticos. La investigación en otros ámbitos respalda esta línea de argumentación, en la medida en que se ha demostrado que el riesgo por la radiación del radón se percibe como menor que el de otras fuentes de radiación (Halpern & Warner, 1994), lo que podría deberse a que el radón se considera de origen natural (Cori et al, 2022). La percepción de los microplásticos como artificiales y causados por el hombre podría ofrecer una explicación de por qué la muestra actual consideraba que los microplásticos tenían un fuerte componente moral.…”

Experimental Setups for In Vitro Studies on Radon Exposure in Mammalian Cells—A Critical Overview

“…Because the residential radon exposure can contribute to the onset of lung cancer in the overall population, the perception and communication of radon risks continues to receive a lot of research interest [6][7][8]. In addition, radon concentrations vary spatially depending on different geology factors and are particularly elevated in areas with phosphate rocks, metamorphic rocks and uranium ores [9].…”