Radon

Full Scope Human Longevity

Summary

Radon is a radioactive element that accumulates in homes and buildings. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer worldwide. All homes should be tested for radon, and if above actions levels (US - 4 pCi/L), a radon mitigations strategy (getting rid of the radon) should be utilized.

Morbidity and Mortality

Radon is often the largest contributor to an individual’s background radiation dose and is considered the leading environmental cause of cancer mortality. Worldwide, between 3 and 14% of lung cancers are due to radon in any giving country depending on smoking prevalence and background radon levels. In the United States approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths are attributed to radon every year.

Story

Before 1984 radon was only thought to be a risk in uranium mines. That year Stanley Watras, and engineer was starting a job at Limerick nuclear power plant in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Prior to nuclear fuel being added to the plant, Watras began setting off radiation detectors meant to keep workers safe. Each day he was setting machines off in spite of decontamination. An investigation was undertaken and Watras’s home was found to have a huge amount of radiation, 2,700 pCi/L. The source was determined to be radon. This amount of radon was the equivalent in lung cancer risk to smoking hundreds of packs of cigarettes a day. Watras’s family was moved out and the EPA began extensive testing. After this, the risk of radon in the home was recognized.

Key Points

1. Radon is chemical element 86. It is radioactive and gives off an ionizing alpha particle due to its inherent chemical instability.

2. This alpha particle is a helium atom with high energy and speed. If inhaled, ingested, or injected, alpha particles are harmful to human health.

3. Radon is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. All homes should be tested for is presence as it cannot be sensed.

4. There are several proven methods to reduce the level of radon in the home. As such, lung cancer due to radon inhalation is preventable.

References

- Wikipedia – Radon, alpha decay

- Field et al. Residential radon gas exposure and lung cancer: the Iowa Radon Lung Cancer Study. Am J Epidemiol. 2000

- Hill et al. Radon in homes and risk of lung cancer: collaborative analysis of individual data from 13 European case-control studies. BMJ. 2005 Jan 29;330(7485)

- Health Risk of Radon. EPA. https://www.epa.gov/radon/health-risk-radon

- https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-02/documents/2013_consumers_guide_to_radon_reduction.pdf

- Radon and Health. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-02/documents/2013_consumers_guide_to_radon_reduction.pdf

- Rella, Joseph. Ch. 128. Radiation. Goldfrank’s Toxicology. 2019.