July 6, 2005—Recognizing indoor radon as a significant cause of lung cancer around the world, the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and participating countries, is launching and organizing an International Radon Project aimed at helping countries reduce the health risks associated with indoor radon.
The approach will focus on increasing public awareness about this invisible health threat and what can be done to reduce the risk. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, and the WHO estimates that radon could cause up to 15 percent of lung cancers globally.
This international effort will complement the nationwide radon program run by the EPA in the US. For additional information on the initiative, visit the WHO. For general information about radon, visit the EPA.
