Galicia will promote a pioneering strategy at the national level to reduce the level of exposure of citizens to radon gas. For this purpose, an interministerial commission will be created, attached to the Ministry of Health, coordinate and promote public policies on radon gas, with a technical office responsible for executing the initiatives.
He Radon gas is particularly abundant in Galicia due, among other things, to high granite content in the subsoil. Its concentration in indoor environments depends on the geographical area and the level of insulation of buildings. Continuous exposure to high levels of Indoor radon is the second risk factor after tobacco for lung cancer and the first among people who have never smoked.
The Xunta will measure radon levels in health, educational and socio-sanitary centers and will promote measurement in private homes and workplaces. Collecting information related to radon exposure at work and at home to be integrated into the personal file and clinical history of each patient and research of excellence will be encouraged between public health and other areas of knowledge, in collaboration with Galician universities.
Exposure to high levels of radon indoors It is the leading risk factor for lung cancer in people who have never smoked. and the community is stepping up its efforts to reduce the incidence of lung cancer, which is already happening through initiatives such as the pilot screening project in the health zone of La Coruña and Cee.
This Monday, the Council of Xunta gave its approval to the report on the Galician Radon Reduction Strategy, an initiative of the Ministry of Health promoted with the aim of developing it in the period 2025-2030 to reduce the level of exposure of citizens to this gas.
Measures
The two main objectives: to reduce the levels of this gas in indoor environments to maintain exposure limits in accordance with European and Spanish regulations and to prevent and control the consequences for the Galician population of exposure to radon in indoor environments.
The strategy will be presented at a public event on November 7, coinciding with European Radon Day and is structured into five strategic axes to achieve a Galicia less exposed to radon levels in indoor environments.
The first axis aims to identify radon levels in places and areas of Galicia, in order to know the areas in which there is a greater probability of finding high concentrations of radon in buildings, to facilitate protection design at the collective level.
During the period of validity of the plan, the Xunta will measure radon levels in health, educational and socio-sanitary centers and will promote measurement in private homes and workplaces.
The second line of action targets epidemiological and health surveillance, which will serve to more effectively guide the prevention of health risks associated with exposure to radon levels, as well as to carry out health planning and assessment.
With this objective, a simple system will be implemented to collect information on radon exposure so that it can be incorporated into the personal file and the unique electronic medical record of each Galician public health patient. The third axis aims to achieve good management of knowledge on the effects of exposure to radon on the health of the population to achieve the integration of the different sectors concerned with a view to obtaining global solutions and ensuring that these are the best possible.
In this sense, the Xunta will promote interdisciplinary research of excellence between public health and other areas of knowledge, in collaboration with Galician universities. In addition, a training plan will be developed for agents working in the field of construction, leasing or the prevention of professional risks.
The fourth line of action aims to achieve effective and clear communication between professionals and the population in order to achieve empowerment for the health of individuals and communities. In practice, a communication and information plan will be designed on the health risks linked to exposure to radon, as well as the development of guidelines to reduce exposure to radon in existing buildings.
The fifth axis focuses on managing the risk of exposure to radon in the Galician population. An interministerial commission will be created, attached to the General Directorate of Public Health, to coordinate and promote public policies on radon gas. It is also planned to create the Technical Radon Control Office to launch and develop all the actions indicated in this strategy.
One of the guiding principles of this strategy is the emphasis on health in all policies, because to achieve the reduction of radon levels in indoor environments it is necessary to take measures and decisions, not only in terms of health, but also in the areas of housing and town planning. planning, infrastructure, employment, social policy, education…
Cancer prevention
The strategy presented by the Ministry of Health completes the global line of action that the Xunta is developing to reduce the incidence and mortality of lung cancer in Galicia.
The Inspire Health Plan is underway, to achieve a smoke-free youth and denormalize tobacco consumption in the general population, in addition to taking measures for the early detection of the main diseases linked to tobacco consumption.
Another of the initiatives launched by Xunta this year is a pioneering pilot project for lung cancer screening in the health zone of A Coruña and Cee. It is directed towards people at risk aged 55 to 74 who are heavy smokers or who stopped smoking less than 10 years ago.
