WHAT IS RADON?
What is Radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that has become the second-leading cause of lung cancer — second only to cigarette smoke.
Most soils contain uranium that, over time, decays to produce radium and polonium. Eventually, polonium is released with the radon, which creates a high toxicity level in the air and water that it infuses. Perhaps some homeowners are thinking they could recognize high levels of radon in their home. Unfortunately, radon is completely undetectable with any human senses.
We cannot smell, taste, see, touch, or hear radon. Thus, it easily goes unnoticed. When this happens, everyone in the home becomes susceptible to contracting lung cancer. There are also very limited lung cancer symptoms. Even at that, they tend to lie dormant until becoming more severe.
Risks Of Radon?
Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year. That’s because when you breathe air containing radon, you can get lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.
Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon can be found all over the U.S. It can get into any type of building – homes, offices, and schools – and result in a high indoor radon level. But you and your family are most likely to get your greatest exposure at home, where you spend most of your time.
How Radon Enters The Home
- Cracks in concrete slabs
- Spaces behind brick veneer walls that rest on uncapped hollow-brick foundation
- Pores and cracks in concrete blocks
- Floor-wall joints
- Exposed soil, as in a sump
- Weeping (drain) tile, if drained to open sump
- Mortar joints
- Loose fitting pipe penetrations
- Open tops of block walls
- Building materials such as some rocks
- Water (from some wells)
For More Information About Radon:
Pennsylvania Citizen’s Guide to Radon (PDF)
Pennsylvania Citizen’s Guide to Radon – 2 – Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas. You can’t see radon. And you can’t smell it or taste it.