Data from the Women’s Health Initiative show that postmenopausal women have higher rates of ovarian cancer and increased mortality when they are exposed to elevated levels of radon in their homes. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas—colorless, odorless, and tasteless—produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil and rock.
Once radon accumulates indoors and is inhaled over long periods, it continues to decay inside the body and releases alpha radiation. This radiation can damage cellular DNA, promote carcinogenesis, and increase overall cancer risk. Because of these dangers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies radon exposure as a preventable environmental health hazard.
Your pharmacy plays an important role in preventive care, oncology support, and environmental health counseling. Keeping patients informed about lifestyle and environmental risks—including radon—is essential. You can guide your patients toward risk‑reduction strategies such as home radon testing, especially in regions known to have elevated radon levels.
You are also well positioned to:
- Recommend appropriate cancer screenings
- Perform point‑of‑care testing
- Refer patients to physicians when abnormalities are detected
- Identify potential drug interactions related to cancer treatments
Addressing environmental carcinogens during patient counseling aligns with the expanding role of independent pharmacists in cancer prevention and population health.
A Member-Owned Company Serving Independent Pharmacies
PBA Health is dedicated to helping independent pharmacies reach their full potential on the buy-side of their business. Founded and run by pharmacists, PBA Health serves independent pharmacies with group purchasing services, wholesaler contract negotiations, proprietary purchasing tools, and more.
An HDA member, PBA Health operates its own NABP-accredited warehouse with more than 6,000 SKUs, including brands, generics, narcotics CII-CV, cold-storage products, and over-the-counter (OTC) products — offering the lowest prices in the secondary market.
