RADON GAS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 71, 21 September 1933, Page 18

RADON GAS

USE AS CANCER CURE

AUSTRALIAN DEVELOPMENTS

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, August 24.'

Remarkable developments in Australia in the use of radon gas in the treatment iof cancer were described by the physicist in charge of the Commonwealth radium laboratory (Mr. A. H. Turner) at the conference of physicists held at the Melbourne University. He was actually able to tell a story of Government trading that had produced happy results. Mr. Turner described the work that is being done with part of Government stock of radium. , This was purchased at £10 a milligram, and tho market price has since increased more than 100 per cent. One ounce of radium now costs approximately £600,000. The valuable rays that are used in the treatment of cancer can be obtained either frow.the use of radium itself or from the radon gas obtained from it as a result of radioactive disintegration.. The Melbourne University now has two plants for the generation of radon gas, and there is a plant in Sydney. From Melbourne the, gas is sent to various hospitals in the State and to Tasmania, Gas generated in Sydney is sent to Brisbane by aeroplane. ' , : The radon gas loses its effectiveness in a month or so, and consequently is not of great commercial value. Patients therefore could be permitted to leave the hospital with the radon needle in position, but where radium itself is used this is impossible. The advantage of the gas over the rigid radium needle, is important. Encased in fine, gold tubing, the gas contained can be moulded and curved to fit the contours of the cancerous growth to which it is to be applied. .

Mr. Turner explained that as the rays given off by radium, could be extremely harmful to the human body, special care had to be taken in the preparation ,of the gas. The worker was shielded as much as possible by screens of lead of a thickness as great as six inchest The radium containers were handled with long wooden forceps, and the sealing and measuring of the containers were carried out as quickly as possible. The , laboratory was equipped with a ventilating system capable of changing the air in the room once every minute. In,case of accident the radon, gas could be quickly driven from the laboratory. The''radon was transported to. hospitals in boxes lined heavily! with lead.