Human health damages due to indoor sources of radon in life cycle assessment of dwellings

A methodology was developed to calculate health damages due to exposure to radon emitted to indoor air for use in dwelling life cycle assessment. Fate factors were calculated based on dose conversion factors and effective outgoing airflows. Effect factors were calculated from linear relationship between dose and cancer cases. Damage factors are expressed in terms of disability adjusted life years (DALYs). Health damages due to emissions of radon from building materials in the use phase appeared to be 0.7 – 520% of health damages associated with the rest of the life cycle of the same materials. Health damages due to the emissions of radon from building materials in the use phase of the Dutch reference dwelling are about 50% of the health damages associated with the rest of the life cycle of the same dwelling. This methodology allows for better evaluation of health impacts of building materials and provisions for ventilation.