What is Radon?
Reports by the United States Environmental Protection Agency indicate that radon is one of the leading causes of lung cancer in the United States. In fact, the agency reports that about twenty thousand deaths from lung cancer each year are as a result of radon. But, what is radon? And, why does it matter?
Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally and is formed and produced when radioactive minerals such as uranium break down in water, sand, stone, and concrete products before it’s released into the air. It’s important to note that radon is colorless, odorless, and tasteless and often accumulates in areas or rather places with inadequate ventilation.
Exposure to high levels of radon is dangerous to your health and can result in lung cancer. The gas has been found to be the second leading cause of this type of cancer in the U.S today. While everyone is at risk when exposed to radon, children tend to be more sensitive than adults.
How Does a Person Get Exposed to Radon?
A person is exposed to radon gas when he or she breathes it in. Potential exposure to the gas can also happen through ingestion. As mentioned, radon is a radioactive gas that’s formed when uranium naturally breaks down or decays. Some of the sources of radon include the soil, well water, and igneous rocks. Since it’s not a commercial product, radon can enter living spaces and working areas before disintegrating into its different decay products.
When there’s a high concentration of the gas in well water, you could be exposed to it through ingestion as well as inhalation. Those living in confined air spaces or areas with inadequate ventilation are exposed to high concentration levels of radon. This includes underground mines and underground buildings. If you work in an underground uranium mine, you’re exposed to the highest concentration of the gas and its decay products.
What are the Sources of Radon?
Understand that almost all natural products contain traces of radioactive elements which can form and produce some amounts of radiation. Natural products such as stone, sand, and minerals are more likely to produce measurable amounts of radon gas. The soil around your house produces the highest level of radon followed by well water, the outdoor air, building materials, and the public water supplies respectively. Radon can, therefore, get into your home from the soil through the cracks in your home’s foundation. It accumulates and builds up in the cracks once it’s trapped.
If your residential property is located in an area where the soil has a lot of radioactive minerals such as radium, thorium, and uranium, radon has is more likely to accumulate and build up in your home. Tightly sealed homes, as well as those that are very well-insulated, are more likely to have radon gas accumulate in them. It’s, however, important to note that radon exposure isn’t limited to these homes alone as it can happen to any type of home.
How can you deal with this Problem?
We mentioned that radon is a leading cause of cancer in the country which means you need to put mitigation measures in place. You can reduce radon gas to acceptable levels. It starts with knowing the radon levels in your home through testing. Remember radon is a colorless and odorless gas and you won’t see any immediate symptoms indicating its presence.
Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally and is formed and produced when radioactive minerals such as uranium break down in water, sand, stone, and concrete products before it’s released into the air. It’s important to note that radon is colorless, odorless, and tasteless and often accumulates in areas or rather places with inadequate ventilation.
Exposure to high levels of radon is dangerous to your health and can result in lung cancer. The gas has been found to be the second leading cause of this type of cancer in the U.S today. While everyone is at risk when exposed to radon, children tend to be more sensitive than adults.
How Does a Person Get Exposed to Radon?
A person is exposed to radon gas when he or she breathes it in. Potential exposure to the gas can also happen through ingestion. As mentioned, radon is a radioactive gas that’s formed when uranium naturally breaks down or decays. Some of the sources of radon include the soil, well water, and igneous rocks. Since it’s not a commercial product, radon can enter living spaces and working areas before disintegrating into its different decay products.
When there’s a high concentration of the gas in well water, you could be exposed to it through ingestion as well as inhalation. Those living in confined air spaces or areas with inadequate ventilation are exposed to high concentration levels of radon. This includes underground mines and underground buildings. If you work in an underground uranium mine, you’re exposed to the highest concentration of the gas and its decay products.
What are the Sources of Radon?
Understand that almost all natural products contain traces of radioactive elements which can form and produce some amounts of radiation. Natural products such as stone, sand, and minerals are more likely to produce measurable amounts of radon gas. The soil around your house produces the highest level of radon followed by well water, the outdoor air, building materials, and the public water supplies respectively. Radon can, therefore, get into your home from the soil through the cracks in your home’s foundation. It accumulates and builds up in the cracks once it’s trapped.
If your residential property is located in an area where the soil has a lot of radioactive minerals such as radium, thorium, and uranium, radon has is more likely to accumulate and build up in your home. Tightly sealed homes, as well as those that are very well-insulated, are more likely to have radon gas accumulate in them. It’s, however, important to note that radon exposure isn’t limited to these homes alone as it can happen to any type of home.
How can you deal with this Problem?
We mentioned that radon is a leading cause of cancer in the country which means you need to put mitigation measures in place. You can reduce radon gas to acceptable levels. It starts with knowing the radon levels in your home through testing. Remember radon is a colorless and odorless gas and you won’t see any immediate symptoms indicating its presence.
