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Where Can You Find Sources of Radon?

Radon is an invisible gas that can cause cancer in high concentrations. The gas occurs naturally throughout the country, and according to the Environmental Protection Agency, radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. Knowing where radon is likely to be found can help with choosing testing sites efficiently.

  1. Radon In the Home Through Soil Exposure

    • Radon is generated when uranium and thorium in the ground degrade.The highest levels of these elements are found in soils containing granite or shale. As radon is heavier than air, once it is released, it accumulates in the lowest levels of the home, such as basements and crawl spaces. Testing is required to determine residential levels, and the Environmental Protection Agency recommends taking action to lower exposure when a concentration greater than 4 pCi/L is found.

    Radon In the Home Through Water Exposure

    • Ground water that passes through layers of rock or granite can contain high levels of radon. The gas dissolves into the water as it escapes the rock. Residents will be exposed to radon once the water is brought in contact with air. If a well is dug in an area with high ground water concentrations, radon can be delivered through showers, vapor produced when cooking, and when watering lawns or crops. Some radon also remains in the water itself, which leads to increased risk of stomach cancer through consumption. The EPA suggests that radon concentrations in water be less than 4,000 pCi/L, which would contribute about .3 pCi/L towards the 4 pCi/L recommended maximum indoor level when released into the air. If a high level of radon is found, it can be lowered by using a special filtration system.

    Radon Exposure From Mines

    • The dangers of radon were first discovered by studying its effects on miners. In the early sixteenth century, the Austrian physician Paracelsus described a wasting disease that afflicted miners called mala metallorum, which was later identified as lung cancer. Because miners are surrounded by several tons of rock, exposures in contaminated areas can reach as high as 25,000 pCi/L. Miners working directly with uranium face an even higher risk.

      While ventilators are now put in place to reduce radon levels, concentrations are still higher in mines than in most homes. Advising the public of these increased radon levels and their risks is becoming more important, as alternative healers are promoting mines as an alternative therapy to reduce the symptoms of joint pain, leading arthritis sufferers to organize trips in hopes of finding relief. The therapy is currently available only in four mines in a region bordering Montana and Colorado, where levels of radon have been tested at more than 1,100 pCi/L.

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