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Radium and radon are important contributors to environmental radioactivity. Radon occurs naturally as a result of decay of radioactive elements in soil and it can accumulate in houses built on areas where such decay occurs. Radon is a major cause of cancer; it is estimated to contribute to ~2% of all cancer related deaths in Europe.[1]
Radium, like radon, is radioactive and is found in small quantities in nature and is hazardous to life if radiation exceeds 20-50 mSv/year. Radium is a decay product of uranium and thorium.[2] Radium may also be released into the environment by human activity: for example, in improperly discarded products painted with radioluminescent paint.
- ^ Darby; et al. (January 29, 2005). "Radon in homes and risk of lung cancer: collaborative analysis of individual data from 13 European case-control studies". British Medical Journal. 330 (7485): 223. doi:10.1136/bmj.38308.477650.63. PMC 546066. PMID 15613366.
- ^ Kirby et al. p. 3