Radon Risk: A Global Estimate of Radon’s Contribution to Lung Cancer

摘要

Radon gas can seep into homes through cracks in floors and foundations. Even for people who have never smoked a cigarette, exposure to radon and its decay products can lead to lung cancer.^, Smoking compounds the risk, but according to new estimates published in Environmental Health Perspectives, radon exposure itself may be responsible for 14–17% of lung cancer cases and 3% of all cancer mortality in the 66 countries for which national data on radon exposure are available.Radon gas is constantly flowing up through soil and rock. It can seep into homes through cracks in floors and foundations; without sufficient air exchange, it can accumulate in indoor spaces. But because radon cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted, people often do not realize they are inhaling the carcinogen. Image: © Mary Perry/Alamy Stock Photo.