PubMed · 7912759
The source did not provide an abstract. Follow the original record for more information.
Explore connections, maps & timelines
C R Muirhead. 1994-07-16. Radon risks.. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(94)92751-0
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.
KEEP EXPLORING
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The effective radiation doses received by children living in high radon areas are similar to those which have been associated with an excess risk of malignant disease elsewhere. However, the only cancer known to be associated with radon is lung cancer--a disease which is not a condition of childhood. Thorne and his colleagues have conducted a study which could have demonstrated an excess of childhood malignancy only if the risk associated with radon was very high. The risk to health of high levels of radon in the environment remains uncertain. The United Kingdom Case Control Study of Childhood Cancers, under the chairmanship of Sir Richard Doll, is assessing risk from many factors including measured radon exposure and it is with great interest that we await the results.
Since the discovery of x rays, the public has shown increasing concern about exposure to radiation. In the mid-1980s, with the dissemination of information about the ubiquitous nature of radon, this concern about radiation exposure has taken on a new perspective. As the general public realizes that exposure to radiation is an unavoidable part of life, questions arise as to how much exposure is acceptable when weighed against the costs of reducing the exposure. Because limited resources are available to protect the public's health and the environment, these resources need to be used wisely. The cost-effectiveness of the various options to lessen the potential adverse health effects from radon must be considered.