Radon Sources and Action Levels

Abstract

Radon is by far the largest contributor to population exposure because the dose received from radon and its progeny exceeds all other radiation sources. After smoking, it is the second most frequent cause of the lung cancer, therefore it is classified as Group 1 carcinogenic to humans. The soil under a building is the major source of indoor radon. An important contribution to indoor radon concentration comes from building materials whose composition includes volcano rocks as well as household water. The aim of this paper is to present a brief overview of indoor radon sources and prescribed permitted concentration levels in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the world. Finally, the hazardous effects on human health have been discussed.