Residential Radon in Central and South America : A Systematic Review
Alexandra Giraldo‐Osorio 1 2 , Alberto Ruano‐Ravina 1 3 , Leonor Varela‐Lema 4 , Juan M Barros‐Dios 1 , Mónica Pérez‐Ríos 1 3
Affiliations Expand PMID : 32599800 PMCID : PMC7345538 DOI : 10.3390 / ijerph17124550 Abstract
Radon gas is a pulmonary carcinogen and the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking . There are many countries that have not implemented measures to reduce the risk it poses to the general population . The aim of this study was to locate available evidence on exposure to residential radon and the regulations to monitor and control this across Central and South America , by conducting a review of the scientific literature and government documents in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses ( PRISMA ) guidelines . This review included 31 studies which had taken measurements of radon in these countries . While Brazil , Argentina , and Peru have undertaken most research , no country in Central and South America has a national map of exposure to residential radon . The prevalence of exposure to radon was uneven , both among the different countries and within individual countries . No country has regulations to prevent the entry of radon into homes , and nine countries have not set maximum permissible concentrations for residential radon . There is a limited number of studies in South and Central America , with a limited spatial coverage , and there is a need to improve knowledge on exposure to residential radon and its effects , and for governments to take the necessary actions to introduce preventive measures in their statutory regulations .
Keywords : lung cancer risk in never‐smokers ; lung neoplasms ; natural radiation ; radon ; residential radon .
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