Radon is a gas produced by the decay of naturally occurring uranium which may be present in minute traces both in dirt and water. This gas is odorless, tasteless and invisible. Radon is everywhere and is found both in outdoor and indoor air. We are all exposed to it on regular basis.
Radon Exposure (Poisoning)
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LIVESTRONG answeredWe all breathe a certain level of radon gas every day, usually at very low levels. It is an invisible, odorless, tasteless gas that seeps up through the ground and diffuses into the air. Radon is a radioactive gas released from the normal decay of uranium in rocks and soil. In a few locations, depending on the geology of the area, radon dissolves into ground water and can be released into the air when the water is used. Radon gas usually exists at very low levels outdoors.
Those who inhale high levels of radon are at an increased risk for developing lung cancer. Ongoing exposure to radon gas is the second most common risk factor for lung cancer. Researchers generally agree that 5 to 10 percent of all lung cancer cases are directly caused by radon gas. Smokers who are exposed to radon gas long term, have an even greater risk of developing lung cancer than non-smokers with similar exposure. -
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LIVESTRONG answeredRadon can enter homes through cracks in floors, walls, or foundations, and collect indoors. Radon gas can also be released from building materials or from water obtained from wells that contain radon. Radon levels may be higher in homes that are well insulated, tightly sealed or built on uranium-rich soil. Because of closeness to the ground, basement and first floors in a house typically have the highest radon levels.
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Riverside Cancer Care Center answeredRadon is present in nearly all air. Everyone breathes radon in every day, usually at very low levels. However, people who inhale high levels of radon are at an increased risk for developing lung cancer.
Radon can enter homes through cracks in floors, walls, or foundations, and collect indoors. It can also be released from building materials, or from water obtained from wells that contain radon. Radon levels can be higher in homes that are well insulated, tightly sealed, and/or built on uranium-rich soil. Because of their closeness to the ground, basement and first floors typically have the highest radon levels.
This answer is based on source information from the National Cancer Institute.
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Portsmouth Regional Hospital answeredRadon poisoning occurs when a person is exposed to an excessive amount of radon. Radon is a tasteless, odorless, invisible, and radioactive gas formed by the natural breakdown of uranium. Because uranium is usually present in dirt and rocks, very low levels of radon are released into the environment on a continuous basis. Under certain circumstances a person can be exposed to higher than usual amounts, which can lead to radon poisoning. Radon poisoning is the second most common cause of lung cancer in the United States, but does not seem to cause any other health problems.
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Portsmouth Regional Hospital answered
Very small amounts of radon are commonly found in the environment because radon is formed by the natural breakdown of uranium, which is typically present in dirt and rocks. Radon is a gas, so it moves easily into the air, into buildings (through open doors or cracks in their foundations or basements), and through the soil. If it enters the groundwater, radon will be found in drinking water and well water. Radon poisoning is usually caused by breathing excessive amounts of radon for a prolonged period of time. This is most likely to occur in areas where the soil is rich in uranium, or when air circulation is not good, such as in mines or tightly sealed buildings with poor ventilation.
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Portsmouth Regional Hospital answered
Radon poisoning does not immediately cause any symptoms. The only known effect of radon poisoning is a greatly increased risk of lung cancer. Radon poisoning is the second most common cause of lung cancer in the United States, after cigarette smoking. The combination of smoking and radon poisoning makes a person especially susceptible to developing lung cancer.
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Portsmouth Regional Hospital answered
Radon gas spontaneously breaks down into smaller radioactive particles. When these particles decay, they let off energy called alpha radiation. When radon particles are breathed into the lungs, they stay around until they decay. The resulting alpha radiation damages the surrounding lung tissue. This damage can eventually lead to lung cancer. Radon poisoning does not appear to cause any other health problems in the body.
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Portsmouth Regional Hospital answered
Your risk of radon poisoning is increased when you breathe air from your environment that contains excessive amounts of radon. Radon usually comes from the ground, since dirt and rocks contain uranium, which releases radon gas as it decays. So your risk of radon poisoning depends on the extent to which you're around uranium-laden soil.
Radon levels are higher in regions where the soil is rich in uranium, and are also higher in buildings where radon is more likely to enter, such as buildings with cracks in their basements or foundations. Tightly sealed buildings with poor ventilation also have higher levels, as any radon that enters will tend to accumulate. Radon concentration will also typically be higher in lower levels of buildings and basements, since they are closer to soil. Your risk of radon poisoning is also affected by the amount of time you are exposed to radon; the longer you breathe elevated levels of radon, the greater will be the risk of developing radon poisoning.
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Portsmouth Regional Hospital answered
Radon poisoning is difficult to diagnose. There are no symptoms, signs, or laboratory tests that are specific to radon poisoning. There are specialized tests that can detect radon in your urine, bones, and blood, but the results of these tests only tell if you were recently exposed to radon. They do not give any information about the amount of exposure, which is necessary to determine whether the exposure has been excessive. Radon poisoning is most commonly diagnosed only after it has done substantial damage to the lungs, as in a lung cancer diagnosis.