Radon: What to Expect, How to React, and a Personal Story

What exactly IS Radon?

Radon, an odorless, colorless, radioactive element, is a result of the uranium decay in rocks and soil. It can be inhaled into the lungs, exposing itself to the lung tissue and increasing one’s chance for lung cancer. (Ginevan 1988). Smoking is the leading cause of this cancer worldwide, but radon poisoning follows right behind. The risk of lung cancer directly increases with the level of radon exposure. With this said, there is no actual safe level of Radon exposure. In the household, at or above 4.0 pCi/L is the level of caution according to the EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency) (Gelina 2008). The best way to avoid illness is to reduce Radon exposure as much as possible and don’t smoke.

Why should I be Concerned? It’s Effects.

• Radon is a carcinogen.
• Radon poisoning holds second place as a cause of lung cancer. Approximately 15,000 to 22,000 of the 158,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the United States are caused by Radon poisoning (Gelina, 2005-2008).
• There are cures for lung cancer but it is one of the cancers with the lowest survival rate.
• Any radon level above 4.0 pCi/L should be acted on immediately. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) is recalling this number, bringing it down to a 2.7 pCi/L minimum. How to get your home or facility tested? See previous blog

What to do if you have been Exposed to Radon Gas

Radon poisoning is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, immediately following the number one factor of smoking tobacco (Gelina 2005-2008). Obviously, it is a risk if you have high levels of Radon in your home, but understand that other biological issues can increase your chance of damaging your lungs. Children or those of all ages with asthma are more susceptible to effects from high Radon levels in the home. A child holds air in their lungs longer than an average adult and exhales a lesser capacity of air; therefore, the Radon can penetrate and stay in his or her lungs longer. High indoor Radon levels affect your children as well as you and anyone else that visits your home sweet home.
Since lung cancer is the main effect of radon gas poisoning, most known remedies are treatments for cancer. The following options are available, with web links for a description:

Chemotherapy

Lobectomy or Pneumonectomy

Internal Radiation Therapy

Analgesics

External Radiation

Lung segmental resection

(“Treatments for Lung Cancer” 2003).
(“Radon - How to Prevent, Reduce, or Remove Radon” 2009).

• If your home is experiencing high levels of radon gas have your house checked for any leaks to the open air. This will help save energy as well. The older your home is, the more opportunities there are for radon to enter from the outside air.
• Purchase a radon testing kit to check the levels in your home. Checking any granite counter tops that could be emitting radon is crucial, too.
• For more information on keeping your home and family safe from radon poisoning, check out http://healthyaircapecod.blogspot.com/2010/09/radon-testing-and-remediation-reprint.html.

Taking Radon Testing Further in Missouri Schools

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) indoor air quality program has been testing Missouri homes since 2006.

Since 2006, schools have been tested for radon gas in over 50 of Missouri’s counties.
-Elevated radon levels were found in many of the schools, especially in northwest Missouri.
-Radon test devices were placed in every ground-contact classroom starting in August.
-Follow-up testing and technical assistance has been provided for those schools with dangerous levels.


For assistance or for more information on testing status in Missouri schools, please contact:
Randy Maley (DHSS, 573-751-6102, randy.maley@dhss.mo.gov) or
Barb Sassi (DHSS, 573-751-6090, sassib@dhss.mo.gov).

Testimonials

Dana Reeve. Died at age 44 in 2006. She never smoked a cigarette a day in her life. A tragic experience for this face of fame and it could happen to anyone (Stoppler 2006). Below is more information and tutorials on how you can protector your family and home as well as the importance of getting your hands on testing materials for Radon. Please view the final link that tells a shocking story of an average man’s battle with unexpected cancer—do to this silent killer.

Researchers, medical professionals and the common public talk about their knowledge of this deadly gas:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S8vr27plZs

Get your home tested:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOcLcCH9daQ&feature=related

If you have granite counter tops, learn how to properly test for radon gas levels in these areas vulnerable to high levels of uranium:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2jhBeJt95E&feature=related

Eddie’s battle with lung cancer—here how Radon poisoning has drastically affected his life so you won’t share the same fate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcvoZ1pP3ak


References
Gelina, Jamey. “Radon Gas: Second Leading Lung Cancer Cause According to Jamey Gelina, Air Quality
Control Agency Radon Specialist”. 1888 Press Release. 2008.
http://www.1888pressrelease.com/radon-mitigation/radon-action-month/radon-gas-second
leading-lung-cancer-cause-according-to-jam-pr-178465.html
Ginevan, Michael E. “Radon as an Indoor Air Pollutant”. Statistical Science.
3.3: 371-373. Institute of Mathematical Statistics: August 1988.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/2245952
“Radon - How to Prevent, Reduce, or Remove Radon”. WebMD. January 2009. 20 September 2010.
http://www.webmd.com/lung-cancer/tc/radon-how-to-prevent-reduce-or-remove-radon
Stoppler, MD, Melissa C. “Dana Reeve Dies of Lung Cancer”. MedicineNet.com. March 2006. 26
September 2010. http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=60375
“Treatments for Lung Cancer”. CureResearch.com. June 2003. 20 September 2010.
http://www.cureresearch.com/l/lung_cancer/treatments.htm