Why Care About Radon?
You should care about radon because it is an invisible health risk for you and your family. It is estimated that in USA alone more 21,000 people die from radon induced lung cancer.
Radon and cancer
Once in the air radon starts to disintegrate. The products of this disintegration (radon daughters or radon progeny) can become electrically charged and can attach to various particles from the air we breathe. Once in the lungs the progeny will continue to decay by emitting alpha particles which can damage the DNA of cells and creating the basis for a potential cancer.
The main danger from radon exposure is this increased risk of lung cancer. The World Health Organization estimates that the risk of lung cancer increases with 16% per 100Bq/m3 (~3 pCi/l).
It is statistically proven that radon amplifies the risk of lung cancer for smokers.
High variations in readings from house to house
Due to the way radon escapes in the atmosphere from the ground, the measurements in a house can differ dramatically from the results in the next house. This means that a low reading in your neighbor’s home is not enough assurance for you and your family.
Radon in water
Radon can also contaminate drinking water. Contaminated water will be another source of radon gas in your home and it also poses risks in itself.