Health Risks

 

Long-term effects of Radon exposure can cause lung cancer.  Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non tobacco users.

If you inhale a radon atom (a gas), the atom can disintegrate while it is in your lungs. When it disintegrates, it becomes polonium-218, which is a radioactive atom. This atom (now a solid) can settle and lodge in your lungs, and over it's lifetime it will emit a series of radiation comprised of alpha particles (see our science page), beta particles and gamma rays. Eventually it turns into lead-210 which has a half-life of 22 years, and is fairly stable in this form. However, now you have an atom of lead in your system.

It is the sequence of alpha, beta and gamma emissions that can lead to cellular and DNA damage in the lung tissue. According to the USEPA and Surgeon General this damage has been shown to cause lung cancer.

Smoking enormously increases the risk of lung cancer from radon exposure.

We believe that every home should have it's radon level reduced to a point where the radiation level is AS LOW AS REASONABLY ACHIEVABLE!