Foreword.

Abstract

Radon is known to be responsible worldwide for almost one half of the annual effective dose per capita from ionising radiation, and it is the second most important cause of lung cancer. Studies that are not statistically significant (maybe ‘not yet’) point to a possible link between high indoor radon levels and childhood leukaemia. This is without doubt the dark side of radon. Sharply increased attention has been paid to radon issues in recent years by regulatory bodies, health organisations and scientists. There have been a number of important milestones. In 2009, the World Health Organisation published the Handbook on Radon, the first comprehensive well-structured book on radon in the last decade. In 2010, the International Commission on Radiological Protection issued its Publication 115, reviewing recent epidemiological studies of the association between lung cancer and exposure to radon and its decay products. In 2011, the International Atomic Energy Agency published an interim edition of the International Basic Safety Standards, which imposes strengthened requirements on public exposure to radon. In 2012, RADPAR project published RADPAR Recommendations containing 66 specific recommendation on radon policy and strategy. In December 2013, the European Council adopted the EU Basic Safety Standards, requiring the states to establish national radon action plans.