A pilot study to understand the behaviour of indoor radon and the importance of preventing health issues. Implementation of low-cost measures to improve the health of society

Abstract The increase in the incidence of lung cancer among non-smoking individuals is triggering lines of research to explore other potential contributing factors. Radon has been identified as a cause of respiratory disease and lung cancer in workers. An in-depth study is necessary to assess the impact of this gas, which displays highly heterogeneous behaviour. This research should be conducted in private homes, involving society through the use of basic and low-cost equipment. In addition, the information should also be disseminated in media that can reach the public in order to involve them in the solution. For instance, graphs illustrating the varying behaviour of radon under different conditions could be used. This study has used basic equipment in a family house, registering variations in radon levels associated with changes in weather conditions. The results obtained are inconsistent with previously published data, thus an explanation is required, and the pilot study should be continued, including materials that are not suspected of generating radon, as not always the assumed link between health and geography and/or geology meet the expected results.