At What Radon Level Should Mitigation Be Considered?

Discussion Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that is colorless, odorless and tasteless. It is produced from the normal radioactive decay of uranium into radium and then into 222R-Radon. Radon gas escapes from soils and rocks into the air and generally concentrates in enclosed spaces such as buildings, mines and caves. The general ionizing radiation dose received by the general public is caused by radon in large part. In homes and other buildings, soil gas is the most important source of residential radon, but other sources which are less important includes building materials and well water sources. Indoor radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking in the US and a major cause of lung cancer deaths worldwide (3-14%). While children could be at higher risk for cancer because of radon exposure, there currently is not conclusive data that supports this. There also is no current strong evidence that radon causes cancers other than lung cancer. Radon testing is easy and inexpensive to perform. Depending on the building size, location, construction, materials and radon results, more than 1 testing may be needed to determine the overall risk. Repeated radon testing can also be considered if there is increased exposure such as living in a basement apartment. If more than 5% of current buildings in an have elevated radon, new housing and building construction should have preventive radon measures included as they are considered cost effective. Radon m...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news