24 Jan What You Need to Know about Radon

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. We breathe it every day.

“Normal” levels of radon are acceptable; however, long-term exposure to high levels of radon can be dangerous to your health.

January is National Radon Action Month. Let’s take a closer look and boost our collective awareness of this potentially devastating gas.

What is radon?

Radon is 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. It can also build up inside buildings.

How do you get exposed to it?

You’re exposed to radon when you breathe it in. High amounts of radon may be found in the workplace, a school, or any building. You spend the most time in your home, so that’s where radon exposure is most likely.

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.

Radon exposure can happen in any type of home, whether it has a basement, a crawl space, or is built on a slab. But it’s more likely to accumulate in homes that are:

• very well insulated
• tightly sealed
• located where the soil contains a lot of uranium, thorium, and radium

About one in every 15 homes is thought to have high levels of radon. The highest concentration of radon tends to be found in the basement or on the first floor.

How to test your home for radon

It’s not enough to know that the house next door has been tested, because radon levels can vary from one building to the next. 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.

Short-term testing

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
• Other tests measure up to 90 days
• For a short-term test, you’ll need to keep your windows and doors closed as much as possible
• Avoid fans that bring in air from the outside

Short-term devices include:

• alpha-track detectors
• charcoal canisters
• charcoal liquid scintillation detectors
• electret ion chambers
• continuous monitors

Long-term testing

Radon levels fluctuate day to day and month to month, so you’ll get the most accurate results from a long-term test. These tests measure radon levels for more than 90 days. Alpha-track and electret ion chamber detectors are usually used for long-term testing.

Either way, the tests are fairly inexpensive and simple to use. You can pick one up at most hardware stores.

For accurate results, it’s important to follow package instructions carefully. Test kits should be placed in the basement or lowest level of the home. Once you have the device in place, there’s nothing else you need to do.

When the test is complete, it’s simply a matter of packing it up as instructed and sending it back for analysis. You should have your results within a few weeks.

What to do if your home has high levels

A radon level of 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) or more is considered high.

Most of the time, you can reduce radon without making major home renovations or spending a fortune.

DIY ways to address high levels of radon in your home:

The Environmental Protection Agency provides detailed information on how to reduce radon in your home, as well as how to find a qualified contractor to do the work.

If your radon levels aren’t 4 pCi/L or greater, but come close, it may be worth considering some of these remedies anyway.

What are the symptoms of radon exposure?

Radon is all around us. In fact, you’re probably breathing it in every day, even if it’s at a low level. However, you can’t tell if you’re breathing it in at a high level.

The danger in radon exposure is that you can’t see it, taste it, or smell it. And you won’t have any symptoms to alert you.

According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, there is some evidence radon exposure can increase the risk of

• pulmonary fibrosis
• emphysema
• chronic interstitial pneumonia

The development of these disorders can cause an increase in coughing or shortness of breath, though radon itself is not the cause of these symptoms.

Is it true that radon exposure can give you cancer?

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
• coughing up blood
• wheezing
• shortness of breath
• hoarseness
• chest pain, especially when you cough or laugh
• frequent infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia

Over time, you may also experience loss of appetite, weight loss, and fatigue.

According to the American Cancer Society…

• Smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer
• Radon comes in second
• About 10 percent of radon-related cancer deaths involve people who don’t smoke
• People who do smoke and are exposed to high levels of radon are at even greater risk

It’s estimated that lowering radon levels below 4 pCi/L could reduce lung cancer deaths by 2 to 4 percent, which could save about 5,000 lives.

What to do if you have symptoms

There aren’t any specific medical tests that can assess your exposure to radon gas. That’s why it’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of lung cancer, even if you don’t smoke.

See your doctor if you:

• have a persistent cough
• are coughing or have coughed up blood
• are experiencing chest pain

Lung cancer is easier to treat in the earliest stages, before it has a chance to spread.

Key takeaways

• Radon is part of the environment and generally isn’t harmful
• Long-term exposure to high levels of radon can put you at risk of developing lung cancer
• These risks are heightened considerably if you smoke
• Testing for radon is fairly inexpensive and easy to do
• There are known remedies to make your home a safer place

This article was brought to you by the Proactive Health Management Plan in partnership with Healthline.