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The general effects of radon to the human body are caused by its radioactivity and consequent risk of radiation-induced cancer. Lung cancer is the only observed consequence of high concentration radon exposures; both human and animal studies indicate that the lung and respiratory system are the primary targets of radon daughter-induced toxicity ...
Radon, a byproduct of naturally decaying uranium, is estimated to cause thousands of deaths each year nationwide. Here's how to protect yourself.
January is National Radon Action Month and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency – Office of Homeland Security said it is a good time to learn about the odorless gas. Radon occurs naturally ...
Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless [15] gas and therefore is not detectable by human senses alone. At standard temperature and pressure , it forms a monatomic gas with a density of 9.73 kg/m 3 , about 8 times the density of the Earth's atmosphere at sea level, 1.217 kg/m 3 . [ 16 ]
Radium, like radon, is radioactive and is found in small quantities in nature and is hazardous to life if radiation exceeds 20-50 mSv/year. Radium is a decay product of uranium and thorium. [2] Radium may also be released into the environment by human activity: for example, in improperly discarded products painted with radioluminescent paint.
It is often the single largest contributor to an individual's background radiation dose, and is the most variable from location to location. Radon gas from natural sources can accumulate in buildings, especially in confined areas such as attics, and basements. It can also be found in some spring waters and hot springs. [4]
Radon is probably the most pervasive serious hazard for indoor air in the United States and Europe. It is a major cause of lung cancer, responsible for 3–14% of cases in countries, leading to tens of thousands of deaths. [94] Radon gas enters buildings as a soil gas. As it is a heavy gas it will tend to accumulate at the lowest level.
Radon gas is a radioactive chemical element that is the largest source of background radiation, about 2mSv per year. [17] This is similar to a head CT (see table). Other sources include cosmic radiation, dissolved uranium and thorium in water, and internal radiation (humans have radioactive potassium-40 and carbon-14 inside their bodies from ...