Radon and health.

Radon and its daughter decay products are thought to be the cause of 5% of lung cancer in the UK. This assessment has been made by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) after a national survey of radon levels in homes, when more houses than anticipated were found to have high levels, and after a reappraisal upwards of the effectiveness of radon and its daughter products in causing lung cancer. A review of the scientific evidence reveals no direct evidence to incriminate radon or its decay products at the levels found in our homes in lung cell carcinogenesis. The issue involves different scientific disciplines and is highly complex. Debate between scientists is required and more epidemiological studies of lung cancer and low radon exposure are necessary. Meanwhile the indirect evidence linking low levels of radon exposure to lung cancer is insufficient to warrant the remedial action proposed by the NRPB and accepted by the UK government.

Quantitative optical and electron-probe studies of the opaque phases.

Ilmenite, chrome-titanium spinel, ulvöspinel, troilite, native iron, iron-nickel alloy, and native copper are present. In addition mackinawite is provisionally identified. Three additional opaque phases are present but not identified. Modal analysis indicates that the breccia is enriched in iron relative to ilmenite and troilite, and the high nickel content of this iron suggests that it is largely of meteoritic origin. The bulk composition of liquids corresponding to iron/troilite droplets in the rocks indicates an oxygen fugacity no greater than 10(-15.5) and a sulfur fugacity of 10(-6) bar. Complete melting of rocks produced a glass containing complex iron/troilite globules and skeletal ilmenites.