Sun and Other Types of Radiation

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation comes from the sun and man-made sources like tanning beds. Learn more about UV and how to reduce your risk of skin cancer here.

When talking about radiation and cancer risk, it is often x-rays and gamma rays that people think about. Learn what we know about these types of high-energy radiation and how they affect cancer risk.

Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas. Long-term exposure to radon can lead to lung cancer. Find out more about radon and its effects here.

Some cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy may increase a person's risk of developing a different type of cancer later in life. Here we discuss the risk of second cancers that may be linked to past cancer treatment.

Between 1945 and 1962, several countries tested nuclear weapons in the open air. The US government has passed several laws to compensate military veterans, people who worked in the nuclear industry, and others exposed to radiation as part of nuclear testing programs who later develop certain types of cancer or other diseases. Learn more here.

Not all types of radiation have been proven to cause cancer. Learn what we know about exposure to lower-energy forms of radiation and cancer risk.