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The radioactive elements -

There are many radioactive elements that occur in nature, including radium, uranium, polonium, and radon. Radon is a radioactive gas that is created by decaying uranium.

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Nuclear energy -

Radioactive elements give off energy that can be harnessed to generate nuclear power, but can also be absorbed by the human body and cause adverse effects.

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Natural radiation -

Radiation exists everywhere, as radioactive elements are part of the Earth and are found in rock, soil, and water. Low levels are no cause for concern. However, some areas have higher levels of radiation than others, which can pose serious health risks.

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Radon -

Radon gas has no taste, smell, or color, which is why it can be so dangerous. It’s impossible to detect in our homes without performing a radon air test.

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Discovery -

Radon was first discovered by German scientist Friedrich Ernst Dorn in 1900, but its effects had already been observed for centuries.

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Radon poisoning in the past -

A Swiss doctor named Paracelsus recorded cases of radon poisoning as far back as 1530. He wrote about a wasting disease that affected miners, which was known as “mountain sickness.”

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Risk to miners -

Today, we know that miners were one of the groups most affected by radon exposure, as they often worked in areas with high uranium levels. As the uranium in the rock and soil decayed, it produced radon gas, causing radiation sickness in the miners.

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What does it do? -

When the human body is exposed to high levels of radon gas, the particles are deposited in the cells lining the airways. Here, they can damage DNA and even cause lung cancer.

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Lung cancer -

Radon exposure is the second biggest cause of lung cancer after smoking.

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High-risk spaces -

Radon usually disperses in outdoor areas so it’s not as problematic, but it can build up to dangerous levels in indoor spaces like homes, offices, and schools.

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High-risk spaces -

The risk is increased in areas with poor ventilation, and naturally in enclosed spaces that contain high levels of uranium like caves, mines, and water treatment facilities.

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A silent killer -

Radon is insidious both outside and inside the body. It’s invisible and doesn’t have any smell or test, and it doesn’t cause any symptoms when it starts to damage your body.

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Radon exposure -

While radon exposure is a proven cause of lung cancer, it can take five to 25 years to develop. In the meantime, there aren’t any immediate symptoms to tip you off.

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The early signs -

Early symptoms of lung cancer can include a persistent cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, chest pains, and frequent cases of pneumonia and bronchitis.

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Smokers are at higher risk -

The risk of developing lung cancer from radon exposure is much greater for smokers. Around 90% of people who die of radon-related lung cancer are also smokers. Only 10% are non-smokers.

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Long-term exposure -

Smokers who are exposed to radon over a long period of time are at the greatest risk of developing lung cancer. For example, someone who has worked in a mine and smoked for years.

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Risk factors at home -

Radon can make its way into homes from the Earth into cracks in the foundation. This can happen in any home, whether it’s built on a slab foundation or has a basement or crawl space.

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Lack of ventilation -

We all know that it’s more energy-efficient and cost-effective to have a well-insulated home. However, this can increase the risk factor when it comes to radon. Radon builds up even more in a well-insulated home, as it can’t escape.

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Close to the ground -

The highest levels of radon are usually found in the basement or on the ground floor. It’s estimated that one in every 15 homes has high levels of radon.

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Testing for radon -

It’s important to test your home for radon to ensure the levels are safe. A radon level of 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) or more is considered high. There are several kinds of tests you can do.

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Testing for radon -

Short-term test kits have lower accuracy but can obtain a read within two-to-three days. It’s recommended that you keep your windows and doors closed during testing to increase accuracy. Long-term tests are placed in the home for a month or more and can obtain a more precise reading.

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How to reduce radon at home -

Luckily, there are usually ways you can reduce radon levels in your home without having to do major renovations. One method is to locate cracks in the foundations and seal them up.

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Ventilation -

You can install a vent and pipe system that sucks the radon from under the house and pumps it outside to reduce the amount entering your home. This is also known as a soil suction radon reduction system.

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Gas-permeable layer -

Houses built on slab foundations or with a basement have the option to install gas membrane sheets. These are plastic sheets that can be placed underneath the flooring, which don’t allow for gas to pass through.

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Seal with plastic -

You can go a step further and add a layer of plastic sheeting on top of the gas membrane sheets to seal your home off from gas. If you have a crawl space, the plastic sheeting goes over the crawl space.

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Reduce radon in drinking water -

In some places, drinking water is sourced from groundwater that comes from springs, wells, or boreholes. These sources tend to have higher levels of radon than water from reservoirs, rivers, or lakes.

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Radon -

There hasn’t been a confirmed link between consuming water with high levels of radon and stomach cancer. The radon in the water is more likely to evaporate into the air and be absorbed by the lungs.

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Test your water -

If your drinking water comes from a source that is likely to produce high radon levels, it’s important to test the concentration of radon in the water the same way you would test for radon in the air.

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Aeration and filtration -

Effective ways to reduce the radon in your drinking water include aerating your drinking water or using an activated carbon filter.

Sources: (EPA) (Healthline) (WHO) (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry)

See also: Radioactive things you have at home

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