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Radon and Lung Cancer

By Henry J. Fishman, M.D.
ConsumerAffairs.com

July 21, 2005
Radon, a gas you cannot see or smell, may be increasing your risk of lung cancer, according to an article published in a recent issue of the journal Epidemiology.

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Researchers analyzed the data from seven studies of more than 8,600 people. They compared folks exposed to low levels of radon for 5 to 30 years to those who were not exposed.

The research found an 11 percent higher risk of lung cancer at 3 picocuries per liter of air, a measure of radon exposure. This is lower than the level of 4 picocuries, which the government has said increases your risk.

And so, according to this study, we may have a bigger radon problem than we thought. About one in 15 homes has a dangerous radon level according to the government. But the risk may actually be more like one in 10.

While this study was not a double-blind randomized study, it should make us all cautious about radon. Be sure to have your home checked by an expert two or three times. If your reading is 3 or above, you may want to consider fixing the problem.

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