Radon
Radon
Radon is a radioactive gas released from the nuclear decay process of uranium and radium, which are trace elements of many soils. The radiation emitted is alpha, beta, and gamma. It is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. As radon moves up through the ground, it can enter a home through cracks and gaps in walls and floors, cavities inside walls, gaps around service pipes, and water supply connections.
Though relatively harmless at low levels, radon is classified by the Environmental Protection Act as a known human carcinogen. It is considered the leading cause of non-smoking lung cancer in the United States. Small radioactive particles are inhaled and lodged in the lungs, damaging DNA. Because radon is tasteless, odorless, and invisible, it presents unique challenges in minimizing our daily exposure to this naturally occurring radiation.
Radon can be detected through an inexpensive test and mitigated through proper ventilation of excessive radon and the installation of systems to prevent radon from entering the home.