What are the health hazards that radon gas poses for humans?
Breathing radon over time increases your risk of lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Nationally, the EPA estimates that about 21,000 people die each year from radon-related lung cancer. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths.
What are radon decay products?
What is radon? Radon is an invisible, odourless, tasteless, radioactive gas. It is formed by the disintegration of radium, which is a decay product of uranium. Radon emits alpha particles and produces several solid radioactive products called radon daughters or “progeny”.
Is radon a radiological contaminant?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which may be found in high concentrations in indoor environments, such as homes and workplaces. Radon is one of the leading causes of lung cancer.
What is the largest source of radon exposure in communities?
The main source of indoor radon gas infiltration is from soil into buildings.
What causes radon poisoning?
Radon poisoning occurs when large amounts enter the body and cause harmful physical changes. It is a naturally occurring element that takes a gaseous form at standard temperatures and pressures and is one of the densest substances to remain a gas under normal circumstances.
What does radon exposure cause?
Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates. Overall, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. About 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked.
Can radon be absorbed into food?
Ingestion of radon when dissolved in drinking water and food allows for oral entry of radon. It is believed that most of the ingested radon from drinking water is absorbed by the stomach and small intestine, with a small percentage being taken up by the colon.
What does radon turn into?
Radon undergoes radioactive decay, when it releases ionizing radiation and forms “daughter” elements, known as decay products. It is the release of radiation from this decay process that leads to exposure and health risks from radon.
What is radon poisoning?
What does radon cause?
How do you get radon poisoning?
You’re exposed to radon when you breathe it in. High amounts of radon may be found in the workplace, a school, or any building. You spend the most time in your home, so that’s where radon exposure is most likely. Radon can come up through the ground and into your home through cracks in the foundation.
Does radon affect crops?
Does radon affect plant growth? If high levels of radon are present, then the plant growth will not be affected.
Is radon poisonous?
The bottom line. Radon is part of the environment and generally isn’t harmful. But long-term exposure to high levels of radon can put you at risk of developing lung cancer, especially if you smoke.
What are sources of radon in the home?
Radon is a radioactive gas that has been found in homes all over the United States. It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation.