It has been obtained by pumping the gasses off of a solution of a radium salt, sparking the gas mixture to combine the hydrogen and oxygen, removing the water and carbon dioxide by adsorption, and freezing out the radon. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas and comes from the natural breakdown radioactive decay of uranium. It is usually found in igneous rock and soil, but in some cases, well water may also be a source of radon. Radon in the ground, groundwater, or building materials enters working and living spaces and disintegrates into its decay products.
Although high concentrations of radon in groundwater may contribute to radon exposure through ingestion, the inhalation of radon released from water is usually more important. Exhalation of radon from ordinary rock and soils and from radon-rich water can cause significant radon concentrations in tunnels, power stations, caves, public baths, and spas. The average radon concentrations in houses are generally much lower than the average radon concentrations in underground ore mines.
Workers are exposed to radon in several occupations. Underground uranium miners are exposed to the highest levels of radon and its decay products. Other underground workers and certain mineral processing workers may also be exposed to significant levels. There are no immediate symptoms that will alert you to the presence of radon. It typically takes years of exposure before any problems surface. The gas is comprised of radioactive particles that, when breathed in, damage the cells lining your lungs.
When exposed to high levels of radon over extended periods of time, you are more likely to develop lung cancer. In fact, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer.
But where does radon come from? Radon contributes to over 20, American deaths each year. Request a service appointment today. So what causes radon? Radon exists naturally in the ground, and there are five common causes of radon in your home. Any of these sources can release the deadly gas into your home, where it is trapped and can build to dangerous levels.
The radon source you should be most wary of is the soil beneath your home. What causes radon is the decay of radioactive elements that naturally occur in rocks and stones in the soil. If there is radon in the ground below your home, it will find its way through cracks, gaps, and porous materials into your home. Underground basements are especially concerning. Natural gas had previously been in contact with underground uranium and thorium-bearing rock and soil that continually release radon.
The radon and its progeny remain with the natural gas as it travels through distribution pipes and into homes. Radon and its progeny are released to breathing air when the gas is burned in. Every state in the United States has homes with measured radon levels above the EPA recommended concentration. The pressure-driven mechanism occurs when radon escaping the soil encounters a negative pressure in the home relative to the soil. This pressure differential is caused by.
Basements and crawl spaces under the houses allow more opportunity for entry of radon gas from soil. Radon gas can enter a building and then become trapped indoors. Cooking with a gas stove and showering are household activities during which radon may be released from gas and water to the air see water and natural gas above. Congress has mandated that each state set up an office to deal with requests for radon assistance. Many states provide free-of-charge radon detection kits such as the charcoal canister.
The amount of radon emanating from the earth and concentrating inside homes varies considerably by region and locality. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.
Environmental Health and Medicine Education. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Radon Toxicity. If you think you might have been exposed to high levels of radon over long periods of time, talk with your doctor about whether you should get regular health checkups and tests to look for possible signs of lung cancer. Be aware of possible symptoms of lung cancer, such as shortness of breath, a new or worsening cough, pain or tightness in the chest, hoarseness, or trouble swallowing, and tell your doctor if you start to have any of these symptoms.
For uranium miners, millers, and transporters who have certain health problems as a result of exposure to radon, the United States government has established the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program.
The program offers a lump sum payment to people with lung cancer and selected non-cancerous lung diseases, if certain criteria are met.
Information about the program is available at www. The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team. Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. ToxFAQs for Radon.
Accessed at www. Residential radon exposure and risk of lung cancer in Missouri. Am J Public Health. Radon exposure and cancers other than lung cancer in underground miners: A collaborative analysis of 11 studies. J Natl Cancer Inst.
Environmental Protection Agency. Sci Total Environ. Am J Epidemiol. Domestic radon exposure and risk of childhood cancer: A prospective census-based cohort study. Environ Health Perspect. IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans. Radon permeability and radon exhalation of building materials. Indoor radon concentrations caused by construction materials in 23 workplaces. Residential radon and lung cancer among never-smokers in Sweden.
Lung cancer risk from residential radon: Meta-analysis of eight epidemiologic studies. Case-control study of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and residential radon exposure.
National and regional distribution of airborne radon concentrations in US homes. Health Phys. Morganstern H. Ecologic studies in epidemiology: Concepts, principles, and methods. Ann Rev Public Health. National Cancer Institute. Radon and Cancer. National Toxicology Program. Residential radon and risk of lung cancer in an Italian alpine area.
Arch Environ Health. Radon exposure and mortality among white and American Indian uranium miners: An update of the Colorado Plateau cohort.
0コメント