Even if nobody expected this, it looks like 95 percent of 1,100 deaths caused each year by radon are actually caused by homes with much lower levels of the gas than initially thought. Current government protection policies focus mainly on the small number of homes with high radon levels, but researchers contradict the government's acts, as a smaller concentration is lethal too.

 

They also say that installing basic and cheap measures to prevent naturally occurring radon in all new homes would be more cost-effective and have greater potential for reducing radon-related deaths than post-illness treatment. Radon is produced by the decay of uranium which filters into buildings through cracks and holes in the foundations.

 

The gas produces particles than can enter the lungs and expose them to damaging radiations as it decays. Currently, government policies in the UK concentrate on searching homes with high levels of radon and warn their owners of the danger they're facing. However, they recommend solution on people's own expense.

 

Disturbing as it seems, even if most lung cancers are caused by cigarette smoking, another recognised lung carcinogen is the chemically inert gas radon-222, a ubiquitous natural air pollutant. As previously mentioned, a study published in the British Medical Journal estimates that 1,100 deaths a year in the UK are related to radon, about 3.3 percent of all deaths from lung cancer. Furthermore, six out of seven radon related lung cancers occur in people who smoke or who have smoked in the past.

 

Unfortunately, many homeowners refuse to have their house tested or to spend money reducing radon levels. Therefore, these policies are costly, with a minimal impact on radon related deaths. It remains to be seen what the government will decide regarding this important matter for people's health.