Comparison of Environmental and Common Health Risks
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Ranked Environmental Risks | Annual Estimated | | | Cancer Deaths | ======================================================================================= | Estimated Environmentally-Caused Cancer Deaths | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Radon | 250 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | UV light | 90 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Natural background radiation | 170 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Drinking water contaminants | 20 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Pesticides (from all media) | 5 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Workplace exposure to chemicals | 305 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Environmental tobacco smoke | 35 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Man-made radiation | 65 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Hazardous air pollutants | 9 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Total For Ranked Environmental Cancers | 949 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Non-cancer deaths from environmental tobacco smoke (infant | 220 to 270 | | deaths and heart disease) | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Deaths from natural hazards | 45 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Premature deaths due to air particulate episodes | 963 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Deaths due to food-borne illnesses | 140 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Number of children who have severe (symptomatic) exposure to | 235 | | lead (blood lead greater than 20 ug/dL) | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Valley Fever | 30 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Other Health Risks | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Deaths due to automobile accidents, 1992 | 800 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Deaths from major infectious diseases other than AIDS, | 1,398 | | 1992 (nearly all of these are from pneumonia and | | | influenza) | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Deaths attributable to cigarette smoking, 1989 | 5,650 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Deaths from AIDS, 1992 | 370 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Deaths from homicides, 1992 | 370 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Deaths from suicides, 1992 | 660 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------