Radon: Encyclopedia II - Radon - Precautions

Radon - Precautions

Radon is a carcinogenic gas. Radon is a radioactive material and must be handled with care at all times. It is hazardous to inhale this element since it emits alpha particles.

Also, its solid decay products, and their respective products, tend to form a fine dust which can easily enter the airways and become permanently stuck in lung tissue, producing heavy localized exposure. Rooms where radium, actinium, or thorium are stored should be well-ventilated in order to prevent build-up in the air. The build-up of radon is a potential health hazard in uranium and some lead mines. Build-up of radon in homes has also been a more recent health concern and many lung cancer cases are attributed to radon exposure each year. Indoors radon is estimated to cause about 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the U.S. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. today. About 12% of lung cancers in the U.S. are potentially attributable to radon, although these statistics are, when examined closely, somewhat dubious. Because of the long developmental time for lung cancers in general, and the multiple sources for lung cancer, it is difficult (if not impossible) to fully discern what impact domestic radon has on the overall number of lung cancers.

Radon is of greatly increased danger to smokers. The solid decay products of radon (polonium-218, polonium-214, and lead-210 are the most damaging) staying in the atmosphere in dust form can fix themselves on the microparticles in tobacco smoke, which then enter the lungs. Thus the best mitigation for the risks of radon is simply to give up smoking, as the risk of non-smokers developing radon-related lung cancers is considerably lower.

To reduce the danger in homes one can either i) increase ventilation or ii) improve damp-proofing. Ventilation requires air bricks and fans to remove underfloor air. Such ventilation can cost £1,000 to install and £50 a year to run. Alternatively installing an effective damp-proof membrane across the whole footprint of the ground floor can prevent radon rising into the dwelling space. Thick PVC plastic sheeting can do the job well and only cost £100 in a new build. In lieu of building work, a layer of foil or plastic sheeting may be installed underneath carpeting or linoleum. In areas of high concentration, if it is possible to identify fissures or vents then blocking these can be advantageous. About 1.2 million new homes have been built with radon-resistant features since 1990 in the U.S. To date, EPA estimates that as many as 650 future lung cancer deaths are prevented (lives saved) each year as a result of houses altered and new houses built with preventative features installed.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Precautions", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki