Radon
What is Radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive noble gas. Because it is a noble gas, it is chemically inert, but its most dangerous characteristic is that it is completely invisible, odorless, and tasteless. You can be exposed to high levels of it without any sensory warning signs, which is why it requires specialized equipment to detect.
Where does it come from?
Radon is created by the natural, ongoing radioactive decay of heavy metals—specifically uranium, thorium, and radium—that are found in almost all soils and rocks across the world.
- The Upward Journey: As uranium breaks down in the earth, it eventually turns into radon gas. Being a gas, it easily seeps up through the dirt and rocks toward the surface.
- Trapped Indoors: When radon escapes into outdoor air, it dilutes rapidly to harmless, trace levels. The problem occurs when this gas gets trapped indoors. Radon typically enters homes and buildings through the foundation—seeping in via cracks in concrete floors and walls, construction joints, gaps around service pipes, or crawl spaces. Because buildings are heavily insulated and sealed, the gas is trapped inside and can build up to highly concentrated levels.
Why is it Dangerous?
The danger of radon does not come from the gas itself, but from what the gas turns into and what it does inside your body.
- Radioactive Particles: Radon gas has a short half-life and quickly decays into solid, highly radioactive particles (known as “radon daughters” or “radon progeny,” which include unstable isotopes of polonium, lead, and bismuth).
- Lung Tissue Damage: When you inhale radon gas, these heavy, solid decay particles can become lodged in the lining of your lungs. As these trapped particles continue to break down, they release intense, localized bursts of radiation (alpha particles).
- DNA Mutation: This radiation strikes the sensitive lung tissue, physically damaging the DNA of the cells. Over a long period of exposure, this continuous cellular damage significantly increases the risk of genetic mutations that lead to lung cancer.
- The Statistics: Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall (behind smoking). If you smoke and are exposed to high levels of radon, the risk of developing lung cancer is exponentially higher.