Cause of Deaths in the U.S.

Home inspectors are often asked by their clients if they should have their home tested for radon. Real-world loss-of-life comparisons help consumers decide about whether or not they should test. If you are worried about shark attacks, getting trampled by cows, or terrorism, you should be worried sick about radon. These statistics help put things in their proper perspective so that your clients can decide if they want a radon test or not.  Here is a downloadable PDF that inspectors can give to their clients onsite to help them decide if they should get a radon test:  https://www.nachi.org/documents2012/radon-deaths-chart.pdf

 DEATHS PER YEAR

Number

Cause
Source
 611,105 
 Heart Disease
 Centers for Disease Control (2015)
 584,881 
 All Cancers
 Centers for Disease Control (2015)
 160,000 
 Smoking
 American Cancer Society (2004)
 88,000 
 Alcohol Use
 Centers for Disease Control (2015)
 51,783 
 Colon Cancer
 Centers for Disease Control (2015)
  41,149 
 Suicide
 Centers for Disease Control (2014)
 40,290 
 Breast Cancer
 National Cancer Institute (2015)
 32,719 
 Motor Vehicle Accidents
 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (2013)
 29,500 
 Falls
 National Safety Council (2013)
 22,767 
 Prescription Drug  Overdoses
 National Institute on Drug Abuse (2013)
 21,840 
 Leukemia
 U.S. EPA (2010)
 21,530 
 Lymphoma
 U.S. EPA (2010)
 21,000 
 Lung Cancer from Radon Gas
 U.S. EPA
16,121 
 Homicides
 Centers for Disease Control (2013)
 14,775 
 Illegal Drug Overdoses
 National Institute on Drug Abuse (2013)
 13,712 
 AIDS
 Centers for Disease Control (2012)
11,208 
 Firearm Homicides
 Centers for Disease Control (2013)
 8,257 
 Heroin Overdoses
 National Institute on Drug Abuse (2013)
 4,944 
 Cocaine Overdoses
 National Institute on Drug Abuse (2013)
 3,880 
 Drowning
 Centers for Disease Control (avg. 2005-2009)
 3,005 
 Fires
 U.S. Fire Administration (2011)
 3,000 
 Secondhand Smoke
 U.S. EPA
 2,500 
 Choking
 National Safety Council (2009)
 1,690 
 Thyroid Cancer
 U.S. EPA (2010)
 630 
 Bicycle Accidents
 National Safety Council (2009)
 618 
 Excessive Heat
 Centers for Disease Control (avg. 1999-2010)
606 
 Firearm Accidents
 Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence (2010)
 376 
 ATV Accidents
 National Safety Council (2009)
 300 
 Ladder Falls
 International Association of Certified Home  Inspectors
170 
 Carbon Monoxide
 Consumer Product Safety Commission
 104 
 Wind (including tornadoes)
 National Oceanic and Atmospheric  Administration  (2012)
 100 
 Scalding Tap Water
 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public  Health  (2013)
 100 
 Bee Stings
 Boston Children's Hospital
 72 
 Terrorist Attacks
 FBI (avg. 1970-2015)
 26 
 Lightning
 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration  (2014)
 20 
 Dangerous Cows
 Centers for Disease Control (2009)
 15 
 Falling Icicles
 Death in Society Research Foundation
 12 
 High School and College  Football Injuries
 National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury  Research (2013)
 2 
 Vending Machines Accidents
 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
 1 
 Shark Attacks
 Mother Nature Network (2012)
 0 
 Marijuana Overdoses
 Numerous sources
 0 
 Nuclear Power Plant Leaks
 Numerous sources
 


InspectorSeek.com