Read the WHO Radon Handbook at:
http://www.who.int/ionizing_radiation/env/radon/en/index1.html
Also visit the EPA Radon website: http://www.epa.gov/radon
On Monday, September 21st the United Nation's World Health Organization (WHO)
said that radon is a worldwide health risk in homes. Dr. Maria Neira of WHO
said that "Most radon-induced lung cancers occur from low and medium dose
exposures in people's homes. Radon is the second most important cause of
lung cancer after smoking in many countries." The WHO recommendations are
contained in the "Handbook on Indoor Radon: A Public Health Perspective".
Here are two excerpts from the Handbook that are worth noting.
"A national reference level for radon represents the maximum accepted
radon concentration in a residential dwelling and is an important
component of a national programme. For homes with radon concentrations
above these levels remedial actions may be recommended or required. When
setting a reference level, various national factors such as the distribution
of radon, the number of existing homes with high radon concentrations, the
arithmetic mean indoor radon level and the prevalence of smoking should be
taken into consideration. In view of the latest scientific data, WHO proposes
a reference level of 100 Bq/m3 [2.7 pCi/L] to minimize health hazards due
to indoor radon exposure. However, if this level cannot be reached under
the prevailing country-specific conditions, the chosen reference level
should not exceed 300 Bq/m3 [8.1 pCi/L] which represents approximately
10 mSv per year according to recent calculations by the International
Commission on Radiation Protection (Executive Summary, page xi).
The proportion of all lung cancers linked to radon is estimated to lie
between 3% and 14%, depending on the average radon concentration in the
country and on the method of calculation. Radon is the second most important
cause of lung cancer after smoking in many countries. Radon is much more
likely to cause lung cancer in people who smoke, or who have smoked in the
past, than in lifelong non-smokers. However, it is the primary cause of lung
cancer among people who have never smoked (Chapter 1, page 3).
Read/download the WHO Radon Handbook at:
http://www.who.int/ionizing_radiation/env/radon/en/index1.html
Also visit the EPA Radon website: http://www.epa.gov/radon
http://www.who.int/ionizing_radiation/env/radon/en/index1.html
Also visit the EPA Radon website: http://www.epa.gov/radon
On Monday, September 21st the United Nation's World Health Organization (WHO)
said that radon is a worldwide health risk in homes. Dr. Maria Neira of WHO
said that "Most radon-induced lung cancers occur from low and medium dose
exposures in people's homes. Radon is the second most important cause of
lung cancer after smoking in many countries." The WHO recommendations are
contained in the "Handbook on Indoor Radon: A Public Health Perspective".
Here are two excerpts from the Handbook that are worth noting.
"A national reference level for radon represents the maximum accepted
radon concentration in a residential dwelling and is an important
component of a national programme. For homes with radon concentrations
above these levels remedial actions may be recommended or required. When
setting a reference level, various national factors such as the distribution
of radon, the number of existing homes with high radon concentrations, the
arithmetic mean indoor radon level and the prevalence of smoking should be
taken into consideration. In view of the latest scientific data, WHO proposes
a reference level of 100 Bq/m3 [2.7 pCi/L] to minimize health hazards due
to indoor radon exposure. However, if this level cannot be reached under
the prevailing country-specific conditions, the chosen reference level
should not exceed 300 Bq/m3 [8.1 pCi/L] which represents approximately
10 mSv per year according to recent calculations by the International
Commission on Radiation Protection (Executive Summary, page xi).
The proportion of all lung cancers linked to radon is estimated to lie
between 3% and 14%, depending on the average radon concentration in the
country and on the method of calculation. Radon is the second most important
cause of lung cancer after smoking in many countries. Radon is much more
likely to cause lung cancer in people who smoke, or who have smoked in the
past, than in lifelong non-smokers. However, it is the primary cause of lung
cancer among people who have never smoked (Chapter 1, page 3).
Read/download the WHO Radon Handbook at:
http://www.who.int/ionizing_radiation/env/radon/en/index1.html
Also visit the EPA Radon website: http://www.epa.gov/radon
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