Learn. Radon Health Risks.

The primary concern of radon exposure is the risk of developing lung cancer.  Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer among smokers (after tobacco).  Luckily this risk could be entirely preventable through awareness and testing.

 

Where is your greatest exposure to radon?

Radon is present everywhere, and there is no known safe level.  Although radon is present outdoors, your greatest risk of exposure is where it can accumulate (indoors) and where you spend most of your time (at home).  Radon can accumulate in your home whether it is old or new, drafty or well-insulated, regardless of foundation type.

Why is radon a concern?

Radon is an unstable atom and breaks down into a family of elements (radon decay products).  When you breathe, you will inhale both radon and radon decay products.  While the radon atoms are exhaled, the radon decay products stick to the lung tissue.  Radon decay products can further break down, irradiating the lung tissue and causing cell damage.

When radon and radon decay products break down, alpha particles are released.  The alpha particles from the decay products are of concern because they can be released while the decay products are in the lungs.  Lung cancer does not have a thick protective coating, making it susceptible to damage from alpha particles.

When an alpha particles hits a lung cell, the cell may either die or suffer DNA damage.  The cancer-suppressant gene can be impacted and cause the cell to lose its defense against cancer. This defect can be passed on to new cells, increasing the potential for lung cancer.

How likely is radon to cause lung cancer?

The potential for radon-induced lung cancer is a function of the amount of exposure (alpha particle hits), length of exposure (time), and smoking history.  Prolonged exposure to low levels of radon is equally as dangerous as short exposure to high levels of radon.  Because our bodies have no threshold for radon exposure, no level is considered safe.  The only safe level of radon exposure is when there is no radon.

Lifetime Risk of Radon-Induced Lung Cancer (per 1,000 people exposed)
	2002 Citizen's Guide		2003 EPA Reassessment
Radon Level	Never Smoked	Smoker	Never Smoked	Smoker
20 pCi/L	8	135	36	260
10 pCi/L	4	71	18	150
8 pCi/L	3	57	15	120
4 pCi/L	2	29	7	62
2 pCi/L	1	15	4	32
1.3 pCi/L	1	9	2	20
0.4 pCi/L	<1	3	-	3

Source: Center for Environmental Research and Technology, 2005

According to the EPA, "At EPA's action level of 4 pCi/L, a smoker's risk of lung cancer is about 5 times the risk of dying in an auto accident, and if you've never smoked, equal to the risk of dying in an auto accident.  The U.S. Surgeon General and EPA strongly recommend that all homes be tested for radon." [Source]

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Radon Facts
Radon Health Risks
Radon & Real Estate
Radon & New Construction


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