Radon is a naturally-occurring, odorless, invisible, radioactive gas that is listed as a Class “A” carcinogen. You can’t see, smell or taste radon, but it may be a problem in your home. Radon can be found all over the world, including the U.S., because it comes from the natural decay or breakdown of uranium and radium in soil, bedrock, rocks and water.
Radon Gas is typically pushed and sucked up through the ground and into any structure that is in contact with the ground through cracks in the floor and wall joints, gaps around pipes, other holes or cavities of the foundation and through the open soil in a crawl space. Radon can enter the structure even when no visible cracks exist.
Typically radon entry routes. *Natural Resources Canada
Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up. The gas is more concentrated in the lower levels of the home. Radon may also enter the home through well water, though this is usually not a significant source. The only way to determine if your home or building has an elevated radon level is to test for it. Elevated radon levels are easy to take care of and mitigate. Having elevated radon levels in your home should not be a reason to move out of your home or stop you from buying your dream home.
Decay chart of Uranium 238, showing the product and decay of radon 222. *World Nuclear Association
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 52 counties in Colorado are said to be in Zone 1, and 12 counties are located in Zone 2 areas.
*CDPHE
What are the health effects of radon?
The U.S. Surgeon General, American Lung Association, World Health Organization and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have all warned that radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the United States, and the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among non-smokers. Of course the leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the United States is smoking and those who smoke are at four times the risk of developing lung cancer if they are exposed to elevated levels of radon for a long period of time. Radon causes an estimated 21,000 deaths per year in the United States; of those 2,300 are said to be non-smokers and approximately 503 are Colorado residents. It is estimated that an average of 1 out of every 100 people may develop lung cancer due to elevated levels of radon exposure.
*University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
The 21,000 deaths/year is based on the EPA’s 2003 Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes (EPA 402-R-03-003). The other data is taken from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury and Control Report and the National Safety Council Reports.
Radon gas decays or breaks down into radioactive daughter particles called radon decay products or radon progeny: alpha, beta and gamma particles. As the radon becomes trapped in a home or building and breaks down into these tiny particles, a person spending time in the structure will inhale the radon and the radon decay products. The person will then exhale the radon, but the radon decay products stay and attach themselves to the lining in the lungs and release small bursts of energy. Over the course of a person’s lifetime this process may damage the lung tissue and cells and then lead to the development of lung cancer. Not everyone exposed to elevated levels of radon will develop lung cancer and the amount of time between exposure and the onset of the disease may be many years. Radon does not cause any symptoms, such as: common cold, flu like symptoms or allergic reactions.
“The EPA believes that any radon exposure carries some risk – no level of radon is safe.”
A Citizen’s Guide to Radon: The Guide to Protecting Yourself and your Family from Radon.
*EPA’s: A citizen’s guide to radon, IAQ 2009
Your chances of getting lung cancer from radon depend mostly on:
·The level of radon in your home, office, school ·The total amount of time you spend breathing in elevated levels of radon ·Whether you are a smoker or have ever smoked ·Your genetic makeup
*Information on radon induced lung cancer is based on the studies compiled into the BEIR VI report which studied uranium mine workers in several states and countries and studies performed on women residents of Iowa.
*Information was provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Citizen’s Guide to Radon: The guide to protecting yourself and your family form radon and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
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