From data to decisions – Quality assurance in radon policy

Radon abatement policy is the response to the detrimental effect of indoor radon which is estimated to cause hundred thousands of lung cancer fatalities worldwide annually. The policy consists of decisions to implement measures. Decisions rest on data and (sometimes competing) interests, among them health protection. Its weight as an argument depends, among other factors, on knowledge about its subject – in this case, levels, effects, and geographical distribution of exposure to radon. Therefore, the quality assurance of radon policy depends on one of the underlying knowledge, from data to decisions derived from them. Some aspects of the quality assurance chain are discussed in this article.