Uranium in rocks and soil releases radon during radioactive decomposition. Radon is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that becomes concentrated in homes and other buildings that lack adequate ventilation. The gas molecules can attach to dust particles, but also travel freely as a single element. People who inhale excessive levels of radon risk developing a host of lung problems. Compared to adults, children experience increased risks from radon exposure because of their size and lung shape. Radon dangers include lung infections, lung diseases and lung cancer.
Lung Infections
When inhaled, radon particles deposit in lung tissue. These positively charged atoms damage tissue throughout the radioactive decay process. This can leave lungs susceptible to respiratory infections caused by viruses and bacteria. Although no studies have definitively linked radon with acute or subacute health effects other than lung cancer, the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) indicates that reoccurring respiratory infections, including pneumonia, could point to radon exposure.
Lung Disease
Radon exposure can also cause persistent, but nonmalignant, respiratory diseases. In epidemiological studies of miners, the ATSDR reports that the incidences of emphysema, chronic interstitial pneumonia and pulmonary fibrosis all increased with cumulative radon gas contact. Radon particles preferentially attach to the tissue in the bronchi, and the damage causes these diseases. Symptoms of these illnesses include a chronic cough with the absence of cold symptoms such as a runny nose or fever. The ATSDR also notes cigarette smoking increases the detrimental respiratory health effects of radon.
Lung Cancer
Radon-induced lung cancer, the most serious danger from exposure, causes an estimated 21,000 deaths per year, according to the EPA. Radon’s chemical structure allows it to dissolve in lung fluid. While unattached radon clears from the respiratory tract, particles that attach to lung tissue allow the radon to radioactively decay in the body. Exposure to the byproducts of this radioactive process increases the risk of all forms of lung cancer, including small cell carcinoma, Adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. A review of studies in Mutation Research found radon-induced gene mutation, including complete gene deletion. Cigarette smoking acts together with radon gas to further increase lung cancer risk, although scientists do not fully understand how this synergy operates.
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