RADON GAS - WHERE FROM AND WHAT TO DO

Radon is sort of an outsider in nature because it is the only element that is a gas in a long chain of radioactive decays. For an individual person, exposed to radon gas for a long time, there is an increase in the risk for growth of a lung cancer. Radon may also be a causative f actor for other kinds of cancer, maybe by synergy with other pollutant s like tobacco smoke. Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors (SSNTD) have become an important tool in the investigation of the presence of rado n gas, not only in indoor air but also in soil air. Important characte ristics of radon and its progeny are discussed in this report. The use of the plastic film LR115-II in radon and radon daughter detection is also reported. Some measurement results of radon will illustrate the usefullness of SSNTD concerning the radon problem.