Indoor Radon Gas ( 222 Rn) Levels in Homes in Aldama, Chihuahua, Mexico and the Risk of Lung Cancer

Carolina Lerma-Treviño, Hector Rubio-Arias, Luis Humberto Colmenero-Sujo, Maria De Lourdes Villalba and Jesus Manuel Ochoa-Rivero
Additional contact information
Carolina Lerma-Treviño: College of Animal Science and Ecology of the Autonomous University of Chihuahua, Periferico. R. Almada, km. 1. Chihuahua, Chihuahua C.P. 31453, Mexico
Hector Rubio-Arias: College of Animal Science and Ecology of the Autonomous University of Chihuahua, Periferico. R. Almada, km. 1. Chihuahua, Chihuahua C.P. 31453, Mexico
Luis Humberto Colmenero-Sujo: Technological Institute of Chihuahua II, Ave. de las Industrias 11101, Complejo Industrial Chihuahua, Chihuahua C.P. 31130, Mexico
Maria De Lourdes Villalba: College of Engineering of the Autonomous University of Chihuahua-Campus II, Circuito Universitario, Chihuahua, Chihuahua C.P. 31125, Mexico
Jesus Manuel Ochoa-Rivero: La Campana Experimental Center of the National Research Institute on Forestry, Agriculture and Animal Production (INIFAP), Km. 33.3 Carretera Chihuahua-Ojinaga, Aldama, Chihuahua C.P. 32910, Mexico

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-9

Abstract: Radon ( 222 Rn) is an odorless and tasteless gas that is known to cause lung cancer. The objective of this research was to quantify the levels of exposure to radon among people living in an environment rich in uranium (U). Radon concentrations were measured for 3 days in 12 homes in Aldama, Mexico. Homeowners agreed to participate in the study; hence, the sample was non-probabilistic. Radon was measured with a portable AlphaGuard Radon Monitor (Genicron Instruments GmbH), which was placed in a bedroom of each home at a height of 0.74 m. Gas levels were registered in Becquerels (Bq m −3 ), with readings taken every 10 min along with readings of ambient temperature (AT), air pressure (AP), and relative humidity (RH). We found that radon gas levels in Aldama exceed the maximum permissible limits (USA: 148 Bq m −3 ). Levels were higher at night, and were above the maximum permissible level recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency of the United Nations (<200 Bq m −3 ). Most residents in the area have family histories of lung problems, but it was difficult to establish a strong correlation between 222 Rn and lung cancer. Federal, state, and municipal governments should take stronger action to reduce the effects of radon gas on communities.

Keywords: mining-related disease; natural uranium; Chihuahua; Mexico (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/7/1337/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/7/1337/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:7:p:1337-:d:154378

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().