Residential Radon Exposure and Lung Cancer: A survey in Khon Kaen Province

ABSTRACT

This survey was conducted in four districts in Khon Kaen Province as part of a multidisplinary research study performed by medical staff of three institutions, namely Chiang Mai, Songkhla and Khon Kaen universities, in collaboration with researchers from the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology and the Royal Institute of Thailand, with the aim of verifying the association between residential radon exposure and lung cancer risk. The study was carried out by measuring radon gas levels in the homes of proven cancer patients and in other homes as controls for the purpose of comparison. As the findings in both categories of residences showed that the radon levels did not exceed the safety threshold (148 Bq/m³), it was concluded that radon gas exposure in such a situation of low levels would unlikely be a significant cause of lung cancer.