Basically, radon is radioactive gas formed through the radioactive decay of radium, thorium, or uranium. Radon is natural element but considered health hazard due to its radioactivity. Radon is categorized into carcinogen class. It means the gas can lead to poisoning which resulted in cancer. You are exposed to radon gas by simply breathing it in. Thus, the most potential disease you will develop from radon exposure is lung cancer. For non-smoker, radon gas is the first leading cause of lung cancer. As for smokers, it is the second leading cause. Radon is considered a health risk and needed to be reduced.
Learn More About Radon Poisoning
The problem of radon gas is that it is hard to detect. It is practically odorless, tasteless, and colorless. Even if you have been exposed to radon for years, the symptoms are hardly shown. Most of the times, it is too late to know that you have been exposed to high level of radon until you are developing lung cancer. The transformation or radon poisoning to lung cancer may take years.
How to tell if you are suffered from radon poisoning?
The end product of radium decay is radon gas. When it seep through your body in particularly large amount, it can cause harmful damages. Radon is hard to trace by your naked eyes. It is one of the densest elements. In an open air such as outdoor spaces, radon gas is usually at lower concentrate because it can easily dilute. However, it is different when it enters a building or closed compartments. It will be trapped and build up over the times until it reaches high level of concentration that can cause your body harmful damages.
Human senses cannot detect the existence of radon gas
Human senses cannot detect the existence of radon gas. It can be detected using special devices. Even if you are currently exposed to radon, the symptoms of poisoning is not clear or decent. There are no obvious symptoms to tell if you are radon poisoned. It basically affect similar to any other radioactive substances. Any environment can get radon exposure even if it is in small concentration. However, radon can build up easily inside enclosed areas.
Basically, there are no symptoms of radon poisoning. There are no particular effects you will feel in your body until there are cellular changes occur significantly. Thus, the only thing you can do is to take proper precaution. You are now aware of how dangerous radon can be. Thus, it is time to take action. First, you have to perform proper test to see the level of radon accumulated in your home. Then, you can take further actions by developing healthy habits. Stop smoking, open windows regularly to let the air flow, seal any cracks or holes properly, etc.
Keep in mind that radon poisoning is real thing. The problem is that there are no obvious symptoms to warn you. There are no test or diagnosis to identify prior exposure to radon either. If you think you have been in radon exposure, check your health in general to see if there are any symptoms you are developing lung cancer.