It is imperative to understand what are safe radon levels for your home, given the fact that radon exposure is known to be the second leading cause of lung cancer, after tobacco smoke. More on this follows…
Most of us are aware of the famous radioactive heavy metallic element Uranium. It is found in most rocks, and soil in various concentrations, throughout the world. Now, as this element undergoes a decaying process, a radioactive gas known as Radon is naturally produced as the byproduct. It is colorless, odorless and a tasteless noble gas, which is also a potent carcinogen. It can move from the ground into the air and even into various water bodies such as ground and surface water. And as already mentioned, after smoking, radon exposure is reputed to be the leading cause of lung cancer.
In the United States, it is associated with lung cancer causing about 21000 deaths annually. While in the soil, radon decays into tiny radioactive particles called radon progeny,which mingle with dust and other particles. These radon-contaminated particles when breathed into the lungs, they may turn normal nearby cells into cancerous ones. And when radon moves from the ground into the air, it seeps into the indoor air through cracks in the foundations, pipes or joints of the construction. Inhaling radon gas directly, increases the risk of lung cancer significantly.
Radon exposure basically damages the DNA of the cells that line the airways. And this might make the cells to get into an uncontrollable phase of growth, eventually leading to the development of lung cancer. Surprisingly, outdoor levels of radon is lower than what is found indoors. And smokers who are exposed to high radon levels are known to be significantly vulnerable to develop lung cancer, then non-smokers who are exposed to the same. This article lets you know if radon is safe for your home, and the following is an elaboration on the same point…
Risks of Living with Radon
Speaking of safe radon levels indoors, according to experts, it is zero presence of radon. Going by what the United States Environmental Protection Agency states, exposure to radon gas, be it in whatever amounts, has some kind of risk of causing lung cancer. In other words, no radon level is a safe level thus, the lower the level in the home, the lower are the risks of contracting cancer.
The notorious nature of radon exposure can be understood from the fact that the amount of radiation that a person receives from the gas is higher than that from other radiation sources when combined. In addition, as cited above, 21000 deaths occur in the US every year, due to radon-induced lung cancer, and out of these, nearly 20,000 deaths are linked with indoor radon exposure. So one can guess the potency of this radioactive gas indoors over outdoors.
The average count of outdoor radon levels in the United States is 0.4 pCi/L (Picocuries Per Liter). And the same value has been attributed to be the target radon level for homes. Surveys reveal that about two-thirds of all homes in the US show higher levels than this, and according to them, the average count of indoor radon levels is 1.3 pCi/L. As I had cited above, radon even when present in petty amounts, carries the likelihood of causing cancer, which is still more than the risks associated with carcinogens present in food and water.
And that is why it must not be deemed that a value below 0.4 pCi/L is safe or acceptable. To remind you, the lower the radon level, the lower the risks. Researchers are of the view that bringing down radon level to below 0.2 pCi/L, may reduce radon-induced lung cancer and deaths by a margin of 50% nationwide.
To summarize, given the fact that no radon level is considered safe, a few modifications in the home is what is required to reduce the levels to as low as possible. Seeking guidance from a state-certified or qualified radon mitigation contractor is recommended by the EPA for limiting the exposure of radon indoors, which on an average would cost about $1,200. And as smoking significantly adds to contracting radon-induced lung cancer, quitting or never developing the habit is also a smart choice that you can make for the betterment of your health.