Radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. In Galicia, a large part of the territory is sensitive to high concentrations of this gas resulting from the decay of uranium, which represents a serious public health problem. In response, the Xunta launched the innovative system Radon reduction strategy, a pioneering initiative in Spain which aims to reduce the presence of radon in homes and workplaces by 2030. With measures ranging from the identification of risk areas to the implementation of technical solutions in buildings, this strategy promises to mark a before and after in terms of health protection. Galicians.
According to the Nuclear Safety Council, 70% of the community territory is affected by high concentrations of radon gas – greater than 300 becquerels per cubic meter. But there are also other areas throughout the peninsula in which, due to the geological characteristics of the subsoil, it is also possible to find large quantities of this gas, although to a lesser extent, such as in Extremadura (47 %) and in Madrid (36%). A “public health problem”, as defined by the Autonomous Administration in the presentation of its new strategy to deal with it, which is already the is responsible for 10 to 15% of cases of lung cancer in the Communityand 7 out of 100 deaths caused by this disease. And this does not concern our country exclusively, since, as the director of the Galician Radon Laboratory in Santiago de Compostela, Alberto Ruano, explains to ABC, this gas “is also observed in a large part of Portugal and in other countries around the world. “.
For Ruano, a very important issue to highlight is that, although exposure to radon is the first cause of this type of cancer in people who do not use tobacco and the second in those who smoke, these are two things that “They are not on the same level.” “A smoker can increase the risk by 20 to have lung cancer, while a person exposed to radon can multiply it by 1.5“he emphasizes, to “avoid alarmism”. In addition, he emphasizes that it is only linked to this specific pathology, “even if many people associate it with cancer in general or even with common diseases”, especially among the elderly. “Radon is only associated with lung cancer,” he reiterates.
Community mapping
“What we need is to make progress in characterizing the concentration of radon in small areas,” he insists. This is what they do in their laboratory, where they have developed a Radon map in Galicia with more than 6,000 measurements which allows us to have a fairly solid approximation of its distribution, “especially if we compare it to the national radon map, which has 12,000 measurements”. A “detail” which allows “the population to know whether or not this could pose a problem in their neighborhood”.
Maps which, in any case, indicate whether or not there will be high concentrations of radon in a building. It depends fundamentally on two things, explains Ruano: the geological substrate and, above all, the insulation of the house.. Its presence is, in short, “avoidable”: “If a lot of radon comes from downstairs but my house is perfectly insulated, has the necessary measures, the radon will barely enter and, therefore, it will not be a health problem.”
Effective measures
In 2014, the researcher explains, one of the most important changes occurred in the way this problem was approached, with the publication of the European Directive on protection against ionizing radiation. This requires measurements in work environments and establishes the concentration limit per cubic meter. Likewise, Spanish legislation establishes a series of technical requirements that new buildings must meet to protect people from exposure to radon gas.
For its part, in older buildings, there are also ways to reduce its concentration. Sealing cracks and fissures, of course, but there are also other measures such as installation anti-radian sheets in the lowest part of the house or suction manholes. It is “the most extreme measure”, he recognizes, but also the “most effective” when concentrations are high. Its cost, he indicates, is around 2,500 euros. Natural ventilation, on the other hand, is not the best alternative because, even if “people open the window and think the problem is already solved”, for it to work, the air must circulate for a long time. “It’s ineffective,” which is why you always have to resort to “forced ventilation,” pushing the air into the house.
Another concerning issue is the presence of radon gas in workplaces. Currently, explains the director of the Compostela laboratory, “there is an obligation to measure its concentration in workplaces located on the ground floor and in the basement”, which It applies to all Galician municipalities, with the exception of 30. These are type 2 municipalities, designated by the Nuclear Safety Council because of their high risk of radon. These measurements, he emphasizes, must always be carried out by certified laboratories, like his, the only ones to have legal validity. Regardless, it is still an issue that must be addressed by public institutions, which, according to Ruano, must focus on information and prevention. Something crucial to reduce its presence in the private sphere, such as homes, where measures are not obligatory.
An ambitious project
A context in which the Xunta will act with a “very interesting”, “pioneering” and “very ambitious” strategy, affirms Ruano, convinced that it can represent a “a change in favor” in the fight against this gas. And the Reduce Radon 2025-2030 plan focuses not only on the identification and mitigation of risks, but also establishes a global action framework on five fundamental axes: identification of radon levels, epidemiological monitoring, management knowledge, effective communication and risk management.
The initiative also envisages the creation of a Technical office for radon control, which will coordinate public measures and policies related to this gas. Through these efforts, Galicia is positioning itself as a leader in Spain in the fight against radon-related health risks, seeking to protect its citizens and set a precedent for other regions facing similar challenges. One more step, as highlighted in his presentation last week by the Minister of Health, Antonio Gómez Caamaño, in the Executive’s overall line of action aimed at reducing lung cancer rates, while ” protecting the health of citizens and improving their quality of life.”
