Radon

What is radon?

            Radon is a “chemically inert, naturally occurring, radioactive gas (World Health Organization, 2009). Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that comes from the natural radioactive decay or uranium that is found in rocks and soil. Radon gas can escape the rock and soil and concentrate in enclosed spaces within houses (World Health Organization, 2009). Although radon does exist in the outdoors, the highest concentration of radon always exists indoors.

How are we affected by radon?

            Radon can enter the household in several ways. It can enter through cracks at concrete floor-wall junctions, gaps in the floor, small pores in hollow-block walls, and sumps and drains. Radon levels are generally the highest in the basements, cellars, or other structural areas in contact with soil (World Health Organization, 2009).

            There are steps that can be taken to determine if radon does exist within the household. This includes purchasing a radon test kit, testing your home, sending the kit to appropriate sources to determine radon levels, and fixing your home if radon levels are high (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). Testing is so important because it is the only way to determine if there are high levels of radon within the household.

            Measures can be taken to reduce radon levels in homes. Steps can be taken such as “improving the ventilation of the house, avoiding the passage of radon from the basement into living rooms, increasing under-floor ventilation, installing a radon sump system in the basement, sealing floors and walls, and installing a positive pressurization or ventilation system (World Health Organization, 2009).

            Exposure to radon is harmful to human health and causes “tens of thousands of deaths from lung cancer each year globally (World Health Organization, 2009).” Radon is the second largest cause of lung cancer is multiple countries including the United States. It has been estimated to have caused between 3% and 14% of all lung cancers. Radon is even more likely to cause lung cancer in people who smoke. Radon is considered to be the primary cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Radon is especially dangerous because it is very difficult to identify immediate symptoms related to radon exposure and it may take years before health problems appear due to radon (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010).

How do we reduce exposure to radon?

            The best way to reduce and prevent illness and death due to radon exposure is to have the public aware of radon and its risks. The Environmental Protection Agency has deemed January as National Radon Action Month. This campaign’s goal is to get people to have their homes tested, for people to attend a National Radon Action Month event in a local area, to spread the word to encourage others to test for radon, and to buy a radon-resistant home (Environmental Protection Agency, 2012).

            There are several routes that can be taken to get a home tested for radon. Radon test kits are relatively easy to get ahold of. Some home improvement stores sell radon test kits. After the kit is purchased, directions should be followed on the packaging. Radon testing kits can also be purchased online. The National Radon Program Services at Kansas State University offers discounted test kits available online. Another option is contacting the state radon contact. Some states have a list of contractors available within the state. Some states even offer free or discounted radon test kits to the public (Environmental Protection Agency, 2012).

            There are two general ways to test for radon. There is short-term testing and long-term testing. A short-term test remains in the home for between 2-90 days depending on the device. It is even suggested to run 2 sort-term tests before deciding on a course of action. A long-term test remains in the household for 90 or more days. A long-term test gives a better picture of a home’s year-round average radon level. The EPA suggests first a short-term test and if the results is 4 pCi/L or higher a follow up test should be done. The follow-up test should either be a long-term test or a second short-term test (Environmental Protection Agency, 2012).

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A Citizen’s Guide to Radon (2012). Environmental protection agency. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html#risk

National Radon Action Month (2012). Environmental protection agency. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/radon/nram/index.html

Radon (2009). World health organization. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/ionizing_radiation/env/radon/en/

Radon and Cancer (2009). World health organization. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs291/en/index.html

Radon and Your Health (2010). Centers for disease control and prevention. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/brochure/profile_radon.htm