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Radon
Radioactive gas
What is in the book?
Chapter: Pollutants and their health risk
Radon
What is radon?
Radon in homes
Health effects
Reduce the risk
Radon is an international problem. With few exceptions, most countries have regions where homes have elevated levels of radon gas in indoor air.
The main source of radon that is of concern to our non-occupational life is the ground beneath our home, and to a lesser extent ground/well water and building materials made from natural earth and rock. Soil made up of granite rock, some volcanic rock, organic-rich shales, phosphate minerals or pitchblende is known to release radon.
The World Health Organization and the health departments of most countries have declared radon a known human cancer-causing substance (carcinogen).
The risk of developing lung cancer at home depends on many factors: the time someone spends at home, the concentration level, the amount of radiation received (dose), age, health status.
How radon enters your home
A - cracks and gaps in floors
B- cavities between brick walls
C - pores and cracks in walls
D - construction joints
E - along loose fitting pipes and wires
F - building material
G - water supply
