Is radon bad for your health?
Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas found in almost any kind of soil or rock, is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that radon exposure results in more than 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the U.S. every year.
Is radon really that bad?
Radon is part of the environment and generally isn’t harmful. But long-term exposure to high levels of radon can put you at risk of developing lung cancer, especially if you smoke.
What are the signs your home has a Radon problem?
When testing with a home kit or a radon specialist:
- Close your house to the outdoors (windows and doors) for at least 12 hours prior and during a short-term test.
- Do not disturb or move the testing device.
- Promptly send the testing unit and all required information to the laboratory as soon as the test is complete.
- Do not perform a radon test during severe storms or periods of high winds.
How can you protect yourself from radon?
What Can You Do?
- Check Your Area's Radon Potential. Find out if you are buying a home in a high radon area. ...
- Install a Radon Reduction System. Talk to your builder about installing a radon reduction system. ...
- Remember: Test Your Home. Every new home should be tested for radon after occupancy. ...
- If Radon Levels Are Still High, Activate. ...
How long does it take to get sick from radon?
Radon gas can damage cells in your lungs, which can lead to cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States, though it usually takes 5 to 25 years to develop. Early signs and symptoms of lung cancer may include: persistent cough.
What are the signs and symptoms of radon exposure?
A persistent cough could be a sign that you have radon poisoning.Persistent cough.Hoarseness.Wheezing.Shortness of breath.Coughing up blood.Chest pain.Frequent infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.Loss of appetite.More items...
Is it OK to live in a house with radon?
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. If you smoke and live in a home with high radon levels, you increase your risk of developing lung cancer. Having your home tested is the only effective way to determine whether you and your family are at risk of high radon exposure.
How do I know if radon is in my home?
Testing is the only way to find out your home's radon levels. EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon. If you find that you have high radon levels, there are ways to fix a radon problem. Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels.
How to know if you have too much radon in your home?
The only way to know for sure if you have too much radon in your home is to test for it. You can do this on your own without the help of a professional.
What is radon gas?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. It’s produced when uranium, thorium, and radium break down in soil, rock, and water. It’s then released into the air. Radon is odorless, tasteless, and invisible. Radon can accumulate in some places where ventilation is inadequate, such as in an underground mine.
How does radon get into a house?
Radon can come up through the ground and into your home through cracks in the foundation. Once it’s through the cracks, it can get trapped inside, where it builds up. It can also get into your home through well water. Rarely, building materials have been found to release radon into buildings.
What is a high radon level?
A radon level of 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) or more is considered high.
How do you know if you have lung cancer?
Early signs and symptoms of lung cancer may include: 1 persistent cough 2 coughing up blood 3 wheezing 4 shortness of breath 5 hoarseness 6 chest pain, especially when you cough or laugh 7 frequent infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia
How long does it take for radon to develop?
Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States, though it usually takes 5 to 25 years to develop. Early signs and symptoms of lung cancer may include: Over time, you may also experience loss of appetite, weight loss, and fatigue.
How long does radon test take?
If you’re in a hurry, you can use a short-term test. Some of these tests measure radon for just 2 or 3 days, while others measure up to 90 days. For a short-term test, you’ll need to keep your windows and doors closed as much as possible and avoid fans that bring in air from the outside. Short-term devices include:
Why is radon poisoning dangerous?
One reason that radon poisoning is so dangerous is that the symptoms can take a while to appear. Radon poisoning builds up very slowly in your body, so when the symptoms finally appear you can't afford to ignore them. All too often radon poisoning symptoms don't actually appear until you already have cancer or are quite close. This is why it is best to test for radon early, even if you haven't noticed symptoms yet.
What does it mean when you cough and you have radon?
A persistent cough could be a sign that you have radon poisoning. According to the American Cancer Society, smoking cigarettes are the leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and radon is the second leading cause. It is estimated that about 20,000 lung cancer deaths per year are caused by radon exposure.
What to do if you find radon in your home?
If they find dangerous levels of radon then they'll suggest you install a radon mitigation system . A properly installed radon mitigation system will harmlessly disperse the radon gas, making your home dramatically safer.
What to do if your home tests positive for radon?
If your home tests positive for a high level of radon then the next step is to install a radon mitigation system. A radon mitigation system can harmlessly disperse the radon in your home and make it safe to live in again. Luckily these systems are affordable to install and easy to maintain, allowing you to keep your family and home protected with minimal inconvenience.
How to prevent radon in home?
If they find dangerous levels of radon then they'll suggest you install a radon mitigation system. A properly installed radon mitigation system will harmlessly disperse the radon gas, making your home dramatically safer. The best part is that these mitigation systems are affordable to install and require minimal maintenance over their lifespan.
What to do after seeing a doctor for radon?
After you've seen your doctor you should make sure to schedule a radon test. A qualified radon contractor can help you discover if radon is the problem and let you know what level of radon is present in your home.
Who recommends radon testing?
The US Surgeon General, National Radon Defense, Health Canada, and the EPA recommends every home test for radon. Bless This Home book, by Curtis Drew Founder and President of National Radon Defense, is available for purchase on amazon.com. Learn More.
What are the two studies that confirm the radon health risks?
Two studies, a North American study and a European study, both combined data from several previous residential studies. These two studies go a step beyond earlier findings. They confirm the radon health risks predicted by occupational studies of underground miners who breathed radon for a period of years.
Who issued the Advisory on Radon?
(January 13, 2005) U.S. Surgeon General, Richard H. Carmona, issues a Health Advisory warning Americans about the health risk from exposure to radon in indoor air. The Chief Physician urged Americans to test their homes to find out how much radon they might be breathing.
Is radon a serious health problem?
This report by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is the most definitive accumulation of scientific data on indoor radon. The report confirms that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. and that it is a serious public health problem.
Who is the author of the Iowa radon study?
Read the "Iowa Radon Lung Cancer Study " by Dr. William Field on radon-related lung cancer in women.
Is radon a cancer?
A smoker who is also exposed to radon has a much higher risk of lung cancer. Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates. Overall, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year.
How many people die from radon?
Radon causes 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the U.S. About 2,900 of those deaths occur in people who have never smoked.
Where did radon cause lung cancer?
Doctors attributed lung cancer in miners in the Czech Republic, South Australia, and Southwestern U.S. to radon inhalation. Despite the eventual realization of the hazards, radon-induced lung cancer in miners remained a significant hazard until the 1970s. Healthcare professionals now acknowledge that inhaling large quantities ...
What is radon testing?
A radon testing kit can help bring attention to increased levels in the home. Radon is a gas that occurs as the end product of radium decay. Radon poisoning occurs when large amounts enter the body and cause harmful physical changes.
How long does radon build up?
Levels vary a great deal between locations and, although the half-life of radon is less than 4 days, it can build up in high concentrations, especially in areas of low elevation, such as basements or mine shafts.
How does radon enter a building?
Radon can enter a building through cracks in the walls and foundations.
How many homes have radon?
Some estimate that 1 in 15 homes in the U.S. has elevated levels of radon. Radon test kits are widely available and generally cheap or even free. There is a selection of radon testing kits available for purchase online. Radon kits include a collector.
What is the short half life of radon?
Other companies attempted to add radon to water, but the short half-life of radon meant that it had disappeared by the time the water reached people.
What is the sign of radon gas poisoning?
Coughing. Coughing is another common sign linked with radon gas poisoning. Most victims start off with mild coughing . Over a period of time, the coughing progresses to such a level that a person omits blood during the process.
How many people die from radon gas inhalation?
In fact, recent studies have highlighted the fact that radon gas inhalation kills nearly 20,000 individuals in the United States every year. The irony lies in the fact that the signs of radon gas poisoning are not clearly obvious. Small amount of radon can be easily ...
Is radon poisonous to humans?
Signs of Radon Gas Poisoning. Radon is an odorless and invisible radioactive gas that can make way into your home through gaps and cracks, and thereby pose grave health risks. Those with weak immune system are more prone to develop serious health complications by inhaling this poisonous gas.
Can radon gas be absorbed?
The irony lies in the fact that the signs of radon gas poisoning are not clearly obvious. Small amount of radon can be easily absorbed by our body without the presence of noticeable symptoms. Once inside the body, the radon breaks down into lead that penetrates into our lungs.
Can radon get worse?
Radon gas affected person will experience one or combinations of the symptoms outlined above. Needless to say, the condition can get worse upon non-treatment, which is why one must seek medical attention as soon as possible. Experts reckon that one should take all kinds of necessary precautions to stay immune from the health hazards of radon gas. Testing your home and building for radon levels is an effective practice that should be followed over here.
Can radon gas cause pneumonia?
Two of the most common respiratory issues that a person can develop due to radon gas inhalation are pneumonia and bronchitis. It’s a must to treat these conditions at the earliest because the conditions can worsen upon non treatment. The fact that radon gas affects our lungs, one can get severely prone to a host of other respiratory issues.
Where does radon gas come from?
The gas can sometimes be concentrated in homes built on natural soil with natural uranium deposits. It enters through cracks in the floors, walls, and even through construction joints or gaps around service pipes, electrical wires, and pits. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that 1 in every 15 homes in the United States is estimated to have elevated radon levels.
Where is radon found?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. It’s found in soil, rock, and even water as the breakdown of uranium. When uranium is broken down, it’s released into the air and can build up, causing critical long-term health effects.
How much does it cost to test for radon?
Both types of testing are available and traditionally range between $30 and $100. And if you do have high radon levels, the average cost to make your home safer is $1,500 according to the National Radon Program Services.
How long does it take to test for radon?
Short-term tests can measure radon between 2 days and 90 days depending on the device used. To test in the short-term setting, you need to keep your windows and doors closed as much as possible to get an accurate measure of radon exposure. As radon levels vary from day-to-day, long-term testing is recommended to get an accurate prediction ...
Does radon damage the lungs?
When radon gas enters the body, it exposes the lungs to small amounts of radiation. In small quantities, experts say this is harmless. However, in persistent exposures or larger quantities, radon can damage the cells of the lining of the lungs, increasing a person’s chance of developing lung cancer.
Did Malmberg know about radon?
She had no other markers and didn’t fit the classic standard for those who get lung cancer. Like many, Malmberg didn’t realize it was radon that caused her symptoms until it was too late. “I did not know about radon until I started asking what could cause lung cancer and doing research.”.
Can radon be prevented?
Radon can’t be entirely prevented since it’s naturally present in the air. Despite this, high concentrations can come at a costly health expense.
What is radiation sickness?
Overview. Radiation sickness is damage to your body caused by a large dose of radiation often received over a short period of time (acute). The amount of radiation absorbed by the body — the absorbed dose — determines how sick you'll be. Radiation sickness is also called acute radiation syndrome or radiation poisoning.
How long does it take to get radiation symptoms?
If you've had a mild exposure, it may take hours to weeks before any signs and symptoms begin. But with severe exposure, signs and symptoms can begin minutes ...
What to do in a radiation emergency?
In the event of a radiation emergency, stay tuned to your radio or television to hear what protective actions local, state and federal authorities recommend. Recommended actions will depend on the situation, but you will be told to either stay in place or evacuate your area.
What to do if you are overexposed to radiation?
If you know you've been overexposed to radiation, seek emergency medical care.
How long does it take for a person to feel a symtom after exposure?
But with severe exposure, signs and symptoms can begin minutes to days after exposure. Possible symptoms include: Nausea and vomiting. Diarrhea. Headache. Fever. Dizziness and disorientation. Weakness and fatigue. Hair loss.
Which body system is most vulnerable to radiation?
Regions of the body most vulnerable to high-energy radiation are cells in the lining of your intestinal tract, including your stomach, and the blood cell-producing cells of bone marrow.
Is radiation sickness fatal?
Although radiation sickness is serious and often fatal, it's rare. Since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, during World War II, most cases of radiation sickness have occurred after nuclear industrial accidents, such as the 1986 explosion and fire that damaged the nuclear power plant at Chernobyl, Ukraine.
