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Period: Jan 1, 1530 to
History of Radon
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Mar 2, 1530
Scientists advise on strange disease for miners.
Miners in what is now Austria died relatively young as a result of exposure to it. The Swiss physician Paracelsus identified their cause of death as a "wasting disease," and German scientist Georg Agricola suggested that mines be ventilated to protect miners. -
Lung Disease caused by unknown gas
A study of miners in the Ore Mountains shows that the lung disease killing miners is cancer, and in some mines it kills 75% of the miners. The "gas" is later though to have been radon emanation. -
Radon is observed
A gas that radiated from Radium remained radioactive for over a month. This "gas" was discovered to be Radon years later. -
Discovery of Radon
Friedrich Ernst Dorn discovers "radium emanation", later known as Radon-222. -
Thorium and its relation to Radon
Dorn publishes a paper that had been inspired by previous work that Ernest Rutherford had done on the radioactive element thorium, verifying that just like thorium, radium emitted a gas. -
Radon's Physical Properties
Chemists Sir William Ramsay and Robert Whytlaw-Gray were able to isolate radon and study its physical properties such as density and weight. They concluded that radon was the heaviest known gas. -
Radon's first use in medicine.
Inhalation of radon is introduced as treatment for rheumatism and gout. -
Radon given its respect.
The element is formally named radon and identifies with argon and xenon as a noble gas. -
Radon recognized as a cause for affliction.
Rajewski suggests that radon is the cause of high lung cancer rates in some German mines, including one known as the ‘death mine’. -
Radon Decay is the real problem.
Bale recognises that it is radon decay products, not radon gas, that give high radiation doses to the lungs. -
Swedish homes investigated
High radon levels are found in some Swedish homes, but are thought to be a local problem caused by particular building materials. -
Radon levels found in United Kingdom
High radon levels are found in some UK homes - large scale surveys are started. -
Radon source discovered
Research shows that the main source of indoor radon is air in the ground, drawn into buildings by underpressure indoors. -
Widespread Health Initiative recommended for Radon
World Health Organisation recommends action to reduce high radon concentrations in homes. -
Imperial Cancer Research Fund gives credence to earlier mine theories.
ICRF study of lung cancer in Cornwall and Devon gives radon risk estimates similar to those from the miner studies. -
European Union makes further steps towards regulating Radon levels.
EU regulations on targets levels likely to be further revised downwards to 100 Bq/m3 for the home and 300 Bq/m3 for workplaces.
