Kasoa, Weija residents at risk of contracting lung cancer – GAEC

Residents living at Kasoa, Weija, McCarthy Hills and environs stand the risk of contracting lung cancer in the long term if they do not seek professional advice, the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) has said.

The  revelation comes on the back of research findings by GAEC on the prevalence of cancer causing deposit – Uranium –  in these areas.

New residents who intend to build in these areas have also been cautioned to seek professional advice before doing so.

Research scientist at the GAEC Dr Irene Opoku Ntim made this startling revelation to Francis Abban on the Morning Starr Wednesday.

According to her, the deposit which can lead to the development of lung cancer among people living in areas where it is found, is prevalent in these areas because they sit on the Akuapim fault zone lines.

She explained: “radon is a radioactive gas. It’s in the environment, its everywhere. It’s not something you can see, smell or taste. It’s a product of uranium in the environment, it’s in the soil. So as uranium decays, the daughter product is radon, and radon also decays to give us led and polonium which when inhaled decays between 3.82 days. The inhalation deteriorates a person’s DNA which can give lung cancer.”

She stressed: “radon becomes high in enclosed places. Now we are building with glass windows with air condition, and so no natural air.”

Dr Opoku Ntim advised the populace to open their windows in the morning for ventilation, to reduce the concentration of radon in their closed rooms.

“If there are cracks in your walls and ground, seal them. We should be concerned with radon because high concentration can give you lung cancer. According to research it is the second leading cause of cancer in the world,” she noted.

Uranium is a radioactive element that leaves people that are exposed to it prone to various forms of lung cancer.