More Must be Done to Reduce Radon-Related Cancer

April 10, 2015- More than 35 years ago, studies linked radon to lung cancer, but now health officials in Canada are urging new legislation to prevent an estimated 3,000 Canadians from dying each year after exposure to the radioactive gas.

Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking, accounting for about 16 percent of lung cancer deaths annually, reports the Canadian Cancer Society.

Radon is a naturally occurring by-product of uranium that can seep into any building from the soil. Radon cannot be seen, tasted or smelled. The carcinogen may accumulate in any home -- regardless of a region's geographic risk -- particularly in basements and crawl spaces that have not been properly ventilated.

"About 46 percent of the country, geographically, has the potential to be at high risk of radon exposure," says Rob Nuttall, assistant director, Cancer Control Policy for the Canadian Cancer Society.
Knowing the level of radon requires testing, either through the use of in-home kits or by companies that can also provide remediation.

Read the full CMAJ.ca post here.

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