Table of Contents
- 1 What are the long term effects of radon exposure?
- 2 Is it safe to buy a house with high radon levels?
- 3 Why is radon 222 considered such a hazard in the home environment?
- 4 How long does radon mitigation system last?
- 5 How do you know if you’ve been exposed to radon?
- 6 Can radon cause dementia?
- 7 What is the radon level for a safe home?
- 8 How much radon is in the air outside?
- 9 What percentage of lung cancer is caused by radon?
What are the long term effects of radon exposure?
Being exposed to radon for a long period of time can lead to lung cancer. Radon gas in the air breaks down into tiny radioactive elements (radon progeny) that can lodge in the lining of the lungs, where they can give off radiation. This radiation can damage lung cells and eventually lead to lung cancer.
Is it safe to buy a house with high radon levels?
The EPA states, “Radon is a health hazard with a simple solution.” Once radon reduction measures are in place, home buyers need not worry about the quality of the air in the home. Since removing radon is relatively simple, your family will be safe in a home with a radon reduction system in place.
Why is radon 222 considered such a hazard in the home environment?
Most radon exposure occurs inside homes, schools and workplaces. Radon gas becomes trapped indoors after it enters buildings through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Breathing radon over time increases your risk of lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.
Does radon affect mental health?
Mental health experts generally agree that people dealing with the presence of high levels of radon in their homes are likely to have related psychological problems if they are prone to other forms of stress.
Does radon affect breathing?
How Does Radon Affect Your Health? When you breathe in radon, it gets into the lining of your lungs and gives off radiation. Over a long time, that can damage the cells there and lead to lung cancer. Radon is the second biggest cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking.
How long does radon mitigation system last?
You should look at your warning device on a regular basis to make sure the system is working correctly. Fans may last for five years or more (manufacturer warranties tend not to exceed five years) and may then need to be repaired or replaced.
How do you know if you’ve been exposed to radon?
A persistent cough could be a sign that you have radon poisoning.
- Persistent cough.
- Hoarseness.
- Wheezing.
- Shortness of breath.
- Coughing up blood.
- Chest pain.
- Frequent infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.
- Loss of appetite.
Can radon cause dementia?
But more recent research, performed at the University of North Dakota, indicates that radon may be a significant cause of two diseases of the brain: Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Is radon worse in summer or winter?
To answer that question, yes, radon levels in a home tend to be higher during the winter. And those higher levels of radon gas can lead to an increased chance of lung cancer. While indoor radon gas levels are generally higher during winter, sometimes the summer can have higher indoor radon levels.
What are the health risks of radon exposure?
Over time, you may also experience loss of appetite, weight loss, and fatigue. , 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.
What is the radon level for a safe home?
Radon is found in outdoor air and in the indoor air of buildings of all kinds. EPA recommends homes be fixed if the radon level is 4 pCi/L (picocurries per liter) or more. Because there is no known safe level of exposure to radon, EPA also recommends that Americans consider fixing their home for radon levels between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L.
How much radon is in the air outside?
It is upon this national average indoor level that EPA based its estimate of 21,000 radon-related lung cancers a year. The average concentration of radon in outdoor air is .4 pCi/L or 1/10th of EPA’s 4 pCi/L action level.
What percentage of lung cancer is caused by radon?
Health effects of radon Radon is a major cause of lung cancer. It is estimated that radon causes between 3\% to 14\% of all lung cancers in a country, depending on the national average radon level and the smoking prevalence. An increased rate of lung cancer was first seen in uranium miners exposed to very high concentrations of radon.