Radon (Rn)

Radon (symbol Rn; atomic #86)    Radon is a colorless, odorless, naturally occurring gas that results from the decay of radium and uranium (elements abundantly found in rock and soil). Radon is the heaviest noble gas of the periodic table. When broken down it releases radioactive radionuclide atoms, which are either free or attached to airborne particles. These atoms can be inhaled by those indoors, causing or contributing to health affects, including lung cancer and severe debilitation to the immune system.

   The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated that over 6 million homes in the United States contain elevated levels of radon. Being colorless and odorless, radon can enter a home undetected through exposed crawlspaces and porous or cracked concrete in the foundation. Homes built above large rock formations, especially granite, are very likely to have high levels of radon present in the atmosphere. Residential radon pollution has only been widely recognized as a potential danger since the early 1970’s. The EPA recommends that areas of the home below the third floor should be tested for radon.

   Lung cancer is the most severe health affect of radon. The products created by decaying radon are inhaled and deposited into the lungs, where the alpha emissions penetrate the cells of the protective epithelium lining of the lungs. It is believed that the energy deposits in these cells during irradiation are carcinogenic. Based on studies conducted using animals and epidemiological studies performed on minors, the EPA, National Cancer Institute (NCI), and Center for Disease Control (CDC) has estimated that thousands of lung cancer deaths per year are attributable to radon. The American Lung Association (ALA) states that radon exposure has a synergetic affect when combined with first or second hand tobacco smoke. Those at greater risk are smokers, former smokers, those exposed to excessive environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), infants, the elderly, and those with suppressed immune systems. Scientists estimate that smokers exposed to radon are 10 to 20 times more at risk of lung cancer than those who have not been exposed to ETS. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), the ALA, and the EPA, the debilitating or carcinogenic effects of radon gas are not immediate, but only evident after years or even decades of exposure, much like asbestos.