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Sep 22, 2009, 13:42 GMT

WHO: Better controls needed for carcinogenic radon gas

Geneva - Radon exposure is a serious and growing public health threat in homes, which the World Health Organization said Tuesday requires stronger government intervention. Fadela Chaib, a WHO spokeswoman in Geneva, said her organization had released a new handbook to help countries introduce or strengthen programmes to control the presence of the gas. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that has been classified as a human carcinogen, and can lead to an increased risk of lung cancer. 'Radon is the second most important cause of lung cancer after smoking in many countries,' Maria Neira, the director of the WHO's public health and environment department, said in a statement. The concentration of radon in a home depends on the amount of radon-producing uranium in the underlying rocks and soils, the routes available for its passage into the home and the rate of exchange between indoor and outdoor air. Levels of the gas are usually higher in basements, cellars or other structural areas in contact with soil.

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