Radon may account for one in 20 cases of lung cancer

For the first time, researchers have found direct evidence that the occurrence of radon in people's homes may account for one in 20 cases of lung cancer in the UK.

Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally in the earth's crust as part of the decay chain of uranium-238. It percolates through the earth's surface, and although concentrations of radon remain low in outdoor air, they can build up inside houses. The whole of Devon and Cornwall, and parts of Somerset, Derbyshire, and Northamptonshire are the worst affected areas of the UK. It has been known for some time that high …