WHY YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT RADON GAS LEVELS AND LUNG CANCER
Breathing air containing radon can and does cause lung cancer. The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today, next to smoking which causes 160,000 deaths per year. (American Cancer Society) The annual toll 
of radon lung cancer deaths may top out at 21,000 deaths a year, according to the Evironmental Protection Agency. Smokers breathing it have the greatest radon health concern and a much higher risk of getting lung cancer. See radon gas chart lung cancer rates below. Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and inert gas (won't burn or chemically react with other things) so you would not be aware that it is in your home. However, because it is radioactive, it gives off alpha particles, and these can be tested and detected. So, for your safety, order a radon tester today. Back to FAQ's
Who should be most concerned about radon levels?
Radon Risk If You Smoke (Chart from EPA publication- A Citizen's Gluide To Radon)
| Radon Level | If 1,000 people who smoked
were exposed to this level over a lifetime*... | The risk of cancer from radon
exposure compares to**... | WHAT TO DO:
Stop smoking and... |
| 20 pCi/L |
About 260 people could get lung cancer |
250 times the risk of drowning |
Fix your home |
| 10 pCi/L |
About 150 people could get lung cancer |
200 times the risk of dying in a home fire |
Fix your home |
| 8 pCi/L |
About 120 people could get lung cancer |
30 times the risk of dying in a fall |
Fix your home |
| 4 pCi/L |
About 62 people could get lung cancer |
5 times the risk of dying in a car crash |
Fix your home |
| 2 pCi/L |
About 32 people could get lung cancer |
6 times the risk of dying from poison |
Consider fixing between 2 and 4 pCi/L |
| 1.3 pCi/L |
About 20 people could get lung cancer |
(Average indoor radon level) |
(Reducing radon
levels below 2 pCi/L is difficult.) |
| 0.4 pCi/L |
About 3 people could get lung cancer |
(Average outdoor radon level) |
Note: If you are a former smoker, your risk may be lower. pCi/L (pico Curies per Liter)
* Lifetime risk of lung cancer deaths from EPA Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes (EPA 402-R-03-003).
** Comparison data calculated using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 1999-2001 National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Reports. Back to top |
Even if you have never smoked, you need to be concerned about radon. Many people who have developed lung cancer have never smoked. RADON IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF LUNG CANCER IN THE U.S.
Radon Risk If You've Never Smoked (Chart from EPA publication- A Citizen's Gluide To Radon)
| Radon Level | If 1,000 people who never smoked were exposed to this level over a lifetime*... | The risk of cancer from radon exposure compares to**... | WHAT TO DO: |
| 20 pCi/L |
About 36 people could get lung cancer |
35 times the risk of drowning |
Fix your home |
| 10 pCi/L |
About 18 people could get lung cancer |
20 times the risk of dying in a home fire |
Fix your home |
| 8 pCi/L |
About 15 people could get lung cancer |
4 times the risk of dying in a fall |
Fix your home |
| 4 pCi/L |
About 7 people could get lung cancer |
The risk of dying in a car crash |
Fix your home |
| 2 pCi/L |
About 4 person could get lung cancer |
The risk of dying from poison |
Consider fixing between 2 and 4 pCi/L |
| 1.3 pCi/L |
About 2 people could get lung cancer |
(Average indoor radon level) |
(Reducing radon levels below
2 pCi/L is difficult.) |
| 0.4 pCi/L |
|
(Average outdoor radon level) |
Note: If you are a former smoker, your risk may be higher.
* Lifetime risk of lung cancer deaths from EPA Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes (EPA 402-R-03-003).
** Comparison data calculated using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 1999-2001 National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Reports. Back to top |
Are there reasons kids may be at a greater risk than adults? According to the EPA, there is no conclusive evidence that children are more at risk to radon induced lung cancer than adults. However, homes, schools, and day care facilities, etc. should definitely be tested for radon since many hours are spent there daily. Radon’s effects may be greater in children since they have rapid breathing, small lungs, and rapid cell division. The breathing rate in children is about 20 breaths per minute versus 12 breaths per minute in adults. During growth, millions of cells (including lung cells) are undergoing rapid division and may be more sensitive to radon exposure. Due to rapidly developing lungs and breathing rates in children, testing SHOULD be done and the problem fixed if radon gas levels are high. Back to FAQ's Back to top
Why should people who live in basement apartments be concerned about radon? Radon gas comes from the radioactive disintegration of uranium decay products. Uranium is found underground and in the soil. As it decays, the gas radon moves upward through the soil until it becomes trapped beneath structures such as basement slabs. Dangerous amounts of radon may be accumulating beneath the slab. Shrinkage cracks may occur in the slab as it cures and dries out over time. If there are any small cracks, sump pump holes, holes in the concrete through which any piping passes, etc. radon may leak up from below or be drawn up from below by negative pressures. Negative pressures result from drawing air out of the apartment by venting air outside through bath fans, oven hoods, etc. Radon then may accumulate in the apartment to problem levels. Radon is a heavy gas and tends to accumulate in lower levels. Therefore, every basement apartment should be tested for radon.
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