Radon and Its Decay Products in Indoor Air

Book excerpt: In recent years, the perception of indoor radon as a relatively minor health issue has been radically altered: observations in Sweden, Canada, and the U.S. have revealed the high incidence of elevated radon levels in ordinary houses and the extreme hazard of inhaling radon decay products. These findings have lead to a wide range of activities and intensive research aimed at limiting human exposure to radon. This is one of the few books to provide a comprehensive, insightful analysis of the radon problem. Papers reflecting the most current research critically review all major aspects of this issue, each providing sufficient detail to be accessible to those who are technically trained but lack prior direct experience. Coverage includes the generation and migration of radon in source material, the physical and chemical behavior of radon, current evidence on the health effects and risk of exposure, and the strategic and tactical aspects of controlling exposures.