Radon gas-the hidden killer: What is the role of family doctors?

OBJECTIVE: To create awareness of the dangers of radon gas and to provide family physicians with updated, practical information to help educate patients.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION: MEDLINE (1950 to February 2013), the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2005 to 2013), and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (2005 to 2013) were searched using relevant terms. Guidelines, position statements, articles, and original research relevant to radon were selected.

MAIN MESSAGE: Radon is the principal cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second most common cause in smokers (1 in 20 and 1 in 3, respectively), and lifetime risk increases in a linear fashion with radon exposure. In outdoor air, radon is diluted and is not a health concern, but as it diffuses into houses, the gas accumulates, reaching high concentrations, and becomes a health hazard. The Canadian guideline for the maximum acceptable concentration for indoor air is 200 Bq/m3 , and there are cost-effective methods available to reduce radon gas when high levels are found in dwellings.

CONCLUSION: Family physicians play a fundamental role in the prevention of radon-related lung cancer by educating their patients, guiding them about specific preventive actions, and advocating on patients' behalf.