Global warming may lead to poisoning of humanity

Radon is a radioactive gas without smell, color and taste, which is formed during the natural radioactive decay of uranium, and is present in all rocks and soils. The danger of this gas lies in the fact that the process of radon decay takes place with the formation of radioactive particles that have the property of being deposited on the epithelial cells of the human respiratory tract, which can cause damage to the DNA of cells and lead to the development of lung cancer.

Scientists believe that radon causes from 3% to 14% of all cases of lung cancer, depending on the national average level of concentration of this gas and the prevalence of smoking.

A study conducted by Professor Paul Glover showed that global warming, namely the melting of permafrost, will provoke the release of dangerous gas to the surface. First of all, it will affect the inhabitants of the Arctic territories. The situation will be complicated by the fact that the gas has no smell, which means it will be extremely difficult to detect it.

Concerned researchers from the University of Leeds have created a model demonstrating the process of getting gas through permafrost and its spread through the premises. According to this model, people living in buildings with basements will be the first to be at risk: the radon concentration there may increase by about 100 times.

Of course, radon is not a new gas. Its concentration in the atmospheric air quickly drops to a very low level and, as a rule, does not pose a danger. The average level of radon concentration in the atmospheric air ranges from 5 to 15 Bq/m3. However, indoors and in poorly ventilated places, gas tends to accumulate, so, for example, in residential buildings, radon concentration levels can vary greatly – from 10 to more than 10,000 Bq/m3. Even with this indicator, scientists were not previously concerned about this problem while permafrost was stable. But in recent years, its melting has accelerated significantly and continues to be recorded in positive dynamics.

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