Radon Facts
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Surgeon General’s Office have estimated that as many as 21,000 lung cancer deaths are caused each year by radon. Radon is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer. Radon-induced lung cancer costs the United States over $2 billion dollars per year* in both direct and indirect health care costs. (*Based on National Cancer Institute statistics of 14,400 annual radon lung cancer deaths – Oster, Colditz & Kelley in 1984).
According to the EPA, nearly 1 in 3 homes tested in seven states and three Native lands had screening levels over 4 pCi/L, the EPA’s recommended radon action level.
The alpha radiation emitted by radon is the same alpha radiation emitted by other alpha generating radiation sources such as plutonium. A family whose home has radon levels of 4 pCi/L is exposed to approximately 35 times as much radiation as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission would allow if that family was standing next to the fence of a radioactive waste site (25 mrem limit, 800 mrem exposure).
An elementary school student or teacher who spends 8 hours per day, 180 days per year in a classroom with 4 pCi/L of radon will receive nearly 10 times as much radiation as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission allows at the edge of a nuclear power plant (25 mrem limit, 200 mrem exposure).
Most EPA lifetime safety standards for carcinogens are established based on a 1 in 100,000 risk of death. Most scientists agree that the risk of death for radon at 4 pCi/L is approximately 1 in 100. At the 4 pCi/L EPA action guideline level, radon carries approximately 1,000 times the risk of death as any other carcinogen.
What is radon?
Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas. You cannot see, smell or taste radon, but it may be a problem in your home. The US Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. If your home has high radon levels and you smoke, you’re at an even higher risk of developing lung cancer. Some scientific studies of radon exposure indicate that children may be even more affected by radon. This may be due to their higher respiration rates and rapidly dividing cells, making them more vulnerable to radiation damage.
A scientific description
Radon is a gaseous highly radioactive element discovered by English physicist Ernest Rutherford in 1899. The discovery is also credited to German physicist Friedrich Ernst Dorn in 1900. More specifically, Rutherford discovered radon’s alpha radiation and Dorn discovered that radium was releasing a gas.
Radon is a colorless inert gas. The atomic radius is 1.34 angstroms and it is the heaviest known gas–radon is nine times denser than air. Because it is a single atom gas (unlike oxygen, O2, which is comprised of two atoms) it easily penetrates many common materials like paper, leather, low-density plastic (like plastic bags) most paints, and building materials like sheetrock, concrete block, mortar, sheathing paper (tar paper), wood paneling, and most insulations.
Radon is also soluble in water and organic solvents. Although reaction with other compounds is comparatively rare, it is not completely inert and forms stable molecules with highly electronegative materials. Radon is considered a noble gas that occurs in several isotopic forms. Only two are found in significant concentrations in the human environment: radon-222, and radon-220. Radon-222 is a member of the radioactive decay chain of uranium-238. Radon-220 is formed in the decay chain of thorium-232. Radon-222 decays in a sequence of radionuclides called radon decay products, radon daughters, or radon progeny. It is radon-222 that most readily occurs in the environment. Atmospheric releases of radon-222 results in the formation of decay products that are radioisotopes of heavy metals (polonium, lead, bismuth) and rapidly attach to other airborne materials such as dust and other materials facilitating inhalation.
Radon is used to initiate and influence chemical reactions and as a surface label in the study of surface reactions. It has been obtained by pumping the gases off of a solution of a radium salt, sparking the gas mixture to combine the hydrogen and oxygen, removing the water and carbon dioxide by adsorption, and freezing out the radon.
PRODUCTION: Radon is not produced as a commercial product. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas and comes from the natural breakdown (radioactive decay) of uranium. It is usually found in igneous rock and soil.
The primary routes of potential human exposure to radon are inhalation and ingestion. Radon in the ground, groundwater, or building materials enters working and living spaces and decays. Although high concentrations of radon in groundwater may contribute to radon exposure through ingestion, the inhalation of radon released from water is of higher concern.
Compared to outdoor radon levels (about 0.4 pCi/L), people in confined air spaces, particularly in underground work areas such as mines and buildings, are exposed to elevated concentrations of radon and its decay products. Exhalation of radon from ordinary rock and soils and from radon-rich water can cause significant radon concentrations in tunnels, power stations, caves, public baths, and spas. The average radon concentrations in houses are generally much lower than the average radon concentrations in underground ore mines.
Workers are exposed to radon in several occupations. In countries, concentrations of radon decay products in underground mines are now typically less than 1000 Bq/m3 EEC Rn (approx. 28 pCi/L). Underground uranium miners are exposed to the highest levels of radon and its decay products. Other underground workers and certain mineral processing workers may also be exposed to significant levels.
Should you test for radon?
The EPA, US Surgeon General, American Lung Association, American Medical Association, and National Safety Council recommend testing your home for radon because testing is the only way to know your home’s radon levels. There are no immediate symptoms that will alert you to the presence of radon; it typically takes years of exposure before any problems surface.
Radon is an environmental health problem. Elevated radon levels have been discovered in every state and many countries worldwide. The EPA estimates that as many as 8 million homes throughout the country have elevated levels of radon. Studies estimate that 1 in every 6 US homes has elevated radon levels.
Can you fix the problem?
It’s best to rely on a professional – especially when dealing with a carcinogen. In fact, many U.S. states require radon mitigators to be certified and licensed. We recommend reaching out to a certified Radon Professional in your area for more information.