Radon Association with Lung Cancer

Here is something that I recently learned and did not even know it existed or was an issue. According to the EPA it is a big concern within our country. I guess I should get tested. Radon has caused some extreme concern, especially when it comes to our health. Radon has been studied as a cancer causing radioactive gas. You cannot see, smell or taste radon, but it may be a problem in your own home and you don’t even know it. The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, aside from smoking.  Radon is a gaseous highly radioactive element that was discovered by English Physicist Ernest Rutherford in 1899. Rutherford discovered radon’s alpha radiation and another physicist (Friedrich Dorn) discovered that radium releases a gas. It is the heaviest known gas, and is nine times denser than air. Because it is a single atom gas, it easily penetrates many common materials like paper, leather, low density plastic, paints, and building materials (sheetrock, concrete blocks, mortar, wood, and insulations) Radon-222 is a member of the radioactive decay chain of uranium-238. Radon-220 is formed in the decay chain of thorium-232. Atmospheric releases of radon-222 results in the formation of decay products that are radioisotopes of heavy metals (polonium, lead, bismuth) and rapidly attach to other airborne materials such as dust and other materials facilitating inhalation. The primary routes of potential human exposure to radon are inhalation and ingestion. Radon in the ground, groundwater, or building materials enters working and living spaces and disintegrates into its decay products.  The US EPA, Surgeon General, American Lung Association, American Medical Association, and National Safety Council express that the only way you will know if you have dangerous levels in or near your house is to test for radon. There are no immediate symptoms that will alert you and typically takes years of exposure before any problems arise, which is a very big concern. The EPA estimates that over 8 million homes throughout the country have elevated levels of this element, which equals 1:5 homes.  Once inhaled into the body, the elements stick to the delicate cells lining the passageways leading into the lungs. Some sources that it is usually found is in igneous rock and soil, but in some cases, well water may also contain the element. Of course, higher levels of exposure are associated with miners and construction workers.

Most radon in homes comes from radon in the soil that seeps into homes through cracks in the foundation or slab. The amount of radon in the soil varies widely and depends on the chemical makeup of the soil surrounding your house. Radon is also found in the water in homes, especially homes with their own well. When water is agitated, as when showering or washing dishes, radon escapes into the air. Radon decay products may attach to particulates and aerosols in the air we breathe. When they are inhaled, some of these particles are retained in the lungs. Small amounts of radon will be absorbed into the blood system.