International workshop "Uranium, Environment and Public Health", UrEnv 2013 Radon in Galicia

Abstract Radon, a natural radioactive element present in air, soil and water, has been proved to be related to lung cancer: according to the US EPA, nearly 10% of lung cancer deaths are attributable to radon, while Spanish studies estimate this figure is about 5%. Hence, a wide number of research works have been carried out worldwide to determine the underlying factors, existing risk and remediation measures. In Spain, MARNA project pointed out the high radiation levels in Galicia. The main studies regarding Galician radiation are explained, as well as the principal remediation measures applied to reduce radon exposureat home. © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the Instituto Politecnico de Castelo Branco. Keywords: lung cancer; radon exposure; remediation measures; natural radiation; Spain 1. Introduction In recent years, the study of radon and its effects on public health has been a major concern, giving place to a number of studies and legal measures worldwide. This paper intends to review these radon studies, focusing on the Spanish case and the situation in Galicia, summarizing the main facts and remediation measures that can be found in the large literature related to this topic. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which can be found in soils, rocks and water