A natural byproduct of decaying underground chemicals, radon is potentially dangerous if it makes its way into your home. Even in small amounts, radon has been found to cause a wide range of health problems, from emphysema and chronic pneumonia to lung cancer, according to the University of Minnesota Division of Environmental Sciences. If you live in an area that has high levels of underground radon, you should consider performing an indoor radon test to see if you could be at risk of radon exposure.
Cause
Radon is a radioactive gas generated as underground uranium and radium decay. It's odorless and colorless. Outdoors, radon works its way through the ground, seeping through dirt and rocks before dissipating into the atmosphere, where it is harmless. But radon can make its way into your home through tiny cracks or holes in flooring or walls and through floor drains. Homes with well water systems are susceptible to radon exposure when radon seeps into the well and enters the home along with the water supply.
History
As far back as the 16th century, doctors noticed increased death rates among people who worked in mines. By the 19th century, many miners' deaths were attributed to lung cancer. Scientists believed underground radon to be the cause of many of these cancers, and in the 1950s, radon was definitively linked to lung cancer. In 1988, the International Agency for Research on Cancer declared radon a human carcinogen. In the 1990s and early 2000s, researchers began to study the effects of indoor radon on lung cancer rates. In 2005, the U.S. surgeon general issued a health advisory, warning all U.S. citizens about the harmful effects of indoor radon.
Health Effects
The Environmental Protection Agency states that radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. People who smoke and are also exposed to radon are even more likely to develop lung cancer. The World Health Organization says radon exposure leads to between 3 and 14 percent of all lung cancer cases. Even small amounts of radon exposure have been linked to lung cancer.
Testing
You can easily test your home for radon exposure. Radon test kits are available at most hardware and home improvement stores. You'll put your kit in your home for somewhere between two and 90 days, depending on your test's instructions, then send it back to the manufacturer. The company will send you the results. The EPA suggests making repairs to your home to minimize radon exposure if your test results are 4 pico Curies per liter or higher.
Prevention
The EPA recommends that all new homes be built with radon-resistant features if the area experiences high radon levels. If your new or older home tests positive for radon, consider hiring a qualified radon mitigator to add a vent fan to your house. The EPA says adding a fan will reduce the amount of radon in your home.
References
- Environmental Protection Agency: Health Risks of Radon
- World Health Organization: WHO Handbook on Indoor Radiation
- Massachusetts Office of Health and Human Services: Public Health Fact Sheet on Radon
- Environmental Protection Agency: A Citizen's Guide to Radon
- University of Minnesota Division of Environmental Health Sciences: Radon
