Review of Radon Studies: Health Perspectives
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Date
2010-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Since 2005 WHO played the initiative role to increase the interest of radon studies in many
countries around the world. Specially, in the the 30 member countries of the Organization
for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The current radon studies around
the world show that the interest of radon study also increased in other countries of the
world including the countries of our continent Africa.
In order to reduce the worldwide health impact of the radioactive radon gas, a new project
the WHO International Radon Project (IRP) was formed in 2005. More than 100 scientists
from 30 countries had participated in this project. In this project a new technologically
improved and invented radon detecting and measuring devices were implemented. WHO
now suggests that homeowners take action when radon levels exceed 2.7 pCi/l. This is a
much more conservative gure than the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA's) action
level of 4.0 pCi/l, which has been the U.S. standard for over 20-years. The United Nations
also broke new ground in the international ght on radon-induced lung cancer earlier in
2009 when they released their acknowledgement of the radon problems throughout the
world. Now, there is no doubt about the health hazards due to radon. That is why many
countries around the world started to take measures
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Review of Radon Studies