Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas — invisible, with no odor or taste. It comes from the normal decay of uranium and thorium in soil, rock and groundwater, and breaks down quickly, giving off radioactive particles. Breathing high levels over time can cause lung cancer.
How you're exposed
- Outdoors: low levels in the air.
- Indoors: through cracks in floors, walls or foundations, from some building materials, and sometimes through well water.
- Higher levels: in homes that are well insulated or tightly sealed, or built on soil rich in uranium and thorium. Basements and first floors, closest to the ground, usually have the most.
How it causes lung cancer
Breathed in, radon's decay products get trapped in the lungs and damage the cells lining them; over years, that can lead to cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths after smoking. Smokers exposed to radon have a much higher risk, and most radon-related cancer deaths happen in smokers.
Testing your home
Testing is the only way to know. Test:
- if your home has never been tested or its levels are unknown;
- when buying or selling a house;
- before and after renovations, especially repairs to lower radon;
- before changes that mean more time in the basement or lower level, such as turning a basement into a bedroom.
Testing is cheap and easy: buy a kit at most hardware stores or hire a tester. A state or local radon official can explain the devices, recommend one, and list qualified testers.
| Kit | Measures for | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term | 2–90 days | quick results |
| Long-term | over 90 days | a better estimate of your average level, since radon varies day to day and month to month |
Lowering radon
- Radon reduction system: if levels are unsafe, have one installed; the cost depends on your home's size and design.
- Ventilation: open windows and use fans and vents — this helps only temporarily.
- Seal cracks in floors and walls with plaster, caulk or other materials made for the job.
- Retest after any fix to make sure levels are lower.
Sources
Based on "Radon," MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from medlineplus.gov
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