Radon Poisoning

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas, with the chemical symbol Rn. It is mainly a product of radioactive decay or breakdown of uranium. Uranium can be found in soil and rocks and when it breaks down, it releases radon that moves up above the ground and gets into the air we breathe. Radon can easily get into any building and homes through cracks and holes and then get trapped inside and gradually accumulate, in the absence of proper ventilation. However, many times, ground water or well water can also be an important source of radon, as this gas is soluble in water and some organic solvents. Radon poisoning mainly occurs, when this radioactive gas is inhaled or ingested. Basically, this colorless and odorless radioactive gas is considered as carcinogenic to human.

Effects of Radon Poisoning
As has been mentioned already, radon is considered as a carcinogenic or cancer causing agent. The main health risk associated with the inhalation of radon for a prolonged time period is lung cancer. Like other radioactive gas, radon too decays, releasing some tiny radioactive alpha particles. When we breath such particles, they enter our body and over a period of time cause extensive damage to the cells and tissues of the lungs. This can eventually result in lung cancer and is one of the leading causes of lung cancer, especially in United States.

Radon can cause cancer of the squamous cell, adenocarcinoma and small cell and large cell carcinoma of the lungs. Chronic exposure to a high level of radon can cause respiratory problems like, emphysema, development of lesion in the lungs and pulmonary fibrosis. Apart from its effects on lungs, radon is also believed to have some adverse effects on embryonic development of the fetus and on a cell's genetic material. The damaging effect of radon on genetic material may lead to chromosomal aberrations.

Radon Poisoning Symptoms
It does not produce any warning signs in the early stage. Its symptoms can be observed only when the cancer develops. In other words, the lungs can get damaged considerably, by the time the symptoms of poisoning appear. The typical symptoms resemble the symptoms of lung cancer. Such symptoms are, chest pain, breathing difficulties, wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, presence of blood in the cough and pneumonia.

Radon Testing
As there are no early signs and symptoms, the best way to prevent its exposure is to test your home and other areas for radon. The test kits for measuring the level of radon are commercially available. The test kits are mainly of two types, short-term radon test kit and long-term kits. The short-term test kit includes a collector that needs to be placed in the lowest livable floor of a house, for about 3 to 7 days, after which it is sent to the laboratory for analysis, or to find out the level of radon. The long-term kits, on the other hand requires to take collections for radon level for a year.

While testing for radon, it is important to note that the level of this radioactive gas in your house can vary from time to time. So, you may need to test for radon at regular intervals. If the level of radon gas in your house is found to be high, i.e. more than 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter), then you can take the help of a qualified professional to reduce its level. Sealing all cracks, holes and opening in the foundation, cross ventilation and inclusion of vent pipes and vapor retarders in buildings, are some of the recommended ways in which the level of radon can be lowered in buildings and houses.