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What Are the Health Hazards of Radon?

Radon-222, commonly referred to as radon, is a byproduct of decay of natural uranium-238, which can be found in rock and soil all over the world. Radon is a radioactive, hazardous gas, and it can seep into homes. It became a major issue when miners of uranium and other natural resources began to fall prey to tumors and other ailments. Having a home checked for radon is necessary to ensure that such hazards will not affect you and your family.

  1. Lung Cancer

    • Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking. When radon seeps into a home, commercial building or school, it can be inhaled. Since radon gas particles contain alpha particles of radiation, enough radon may lead to the development of tumors in the lungs. It's estimated that around 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year can be attributed to radon. If the radon level in your house is above 4 pico curies per liter, it's suggested that you have the level reduced to less than 2 pico curies per liter.

    Lung Disorders

    • Radon exposure has been attributed to lung conditions other than cancer. It may cause nonmalignant respiratory diseases like pulmonary fibrosis, a condition in which scar tissue forms in the lungs and causes shortness of breath. These lung conditions occur more often in people directly exposed to uranium, like miners. Although radon does not directly cause a condition called silicosis (overexposure to crystalline silica), radon may weaken the immune system in a way that facilitates the infection of other diseases like silicosis.

    Cancers

    • While the problems of radon are most often associated with the lungs because radon gas is inhaled, the risk of other cancers may increase. An analysis of uranium miners found increased incidents of stomach and liver cancer and the presence of leukemia. These increases have not been shown a consistent pattern, so it's not yet proven that radon caused the increase. That being said, if radon causes any type of cancer, it may well spread from that spot to others.

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