What Is Radon Exposure?
Radon exposure is one of the leading causes of death from lung cancer in the United States each year, with thousands of individuals succumbing to its effects. Radon exposure occurs when people come in contact with the minute radioactive radon particles that have been caused from the decay of uranium and radium in the ground. There are no immediate symptoms from exposure to radon, making it difficult to know if there is a problem until sometimes it is too late.
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Identification
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Radon is a gas that is invisible, tasteless and odorless. It is radioactive in nature and occurs when the uranium and radium that exist naturally in rocks and soils begins to break down, releasing radon as a byproduct. Radon can dissolve into ground water in some places and then be released into the atmosphere when this water is used. Radon exists outdoors in extremely low levels that are not harmful to humans, but when it gets into poorly ventilated areas such as a basement, it can become dangerous.
Significance
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Since radon is present in lower levels virtually everywhere, people are constantly exposed to it. However, the amount they breathe in is so insignificant that no harm occurs. Trouble starts when radon enters a home through cracks in the foundation, floors and walls. The radon levels can rise to a point where they have an effect on a person's health, especially if the home is well insulated. The fact that radon comes from the ground means the lower the level of the house is, the more the danger of radon exposure.
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Effects
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Radon is known to decay quickly, and when it does it begins to give off very small radioactive bits. These can be inhaled and then settle in the person's lungs and begin to do damage to the linings. Exposure to radon over a long time can result in enough damage to the cells of this lining in the lungs to cause cancer. Thousands of people each year fall victim to lung cancer that they got from radon exposure.
Warning
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When a home is built on soil that contains significant amounts of radon gas beneath it, there is a risk of radon exposure. The effect of warm air rising throughout a home forms a type of suction at the lower levels that can act to pull the radon gas up through the soil through any opening available. It is almost impossible to fill in all of the cracks that allow radon into a home, meaning that you must use other means to reduce radon levels in the home.
Prevention/Solution
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Radon testing will detect dangerous levels of the gas. They come in two types: short-term detectors and long-term ones. Short-term radon detectors can measure the amount of radon over a time frame as short as 2 days to as long as 3 months. Long-term tests gauge radon levels for more than 90 days. These devices can be bought at most hardware stores. Once a level that is deemed high is discovered, the best way to reduce the radon level is to have a system installed that vents the radon from underneath the house through a pipe to the outside. This can be expensive but worth it.
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