Radon Exposure
Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that is present both outdoors and indoors. It’s typically found in very low levels in the air in our homes, office buildings and other structures, as well as in ground water and well water. As radon breaks down, or decays, into solid radioactive elements (radon progeny), they can attach to dust and other particles in the air, and can be breathed into the lungs. Once inside the body, they can give off alpha particles, a form of high-energy radiation that can damage cell DNA.
Most exposure to radon comes from being indoors in our homes, commercial buildings, schools, malls and other structures. Levels of radon vary depending on the characteristics of the soil in the area, as does radon exposure. While elevated radon levels have been found in every state in the U.S., radon levels vary from town to town. Small amounts of radon also can be released from the water supply into the air, especially if the water source is underground. As the radon moves from the water to air, it can be inhaled. Water that comes from deep, underground wells in rock may have higher levels of radon, whereas surface water (drawn from lakes or rivers) usually has very low radon levels. For the most part, water does not contribute much to overall exposure to radon.
Does Radon Cause Cancer?
While most people associate cigarette smoking with lung cancer, radon exposure is actually the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the US, claiming about 20,000 lives annually. Radon progeny can lodge in the lining of the lungs, where they continue to break down into other radioactive elements by releasing radiation. The radiation released in this process can lead to lung cancer. Long-term exposure to radon can cause a skin tumor to spread through a lymph node and begin growing more than 2 centimeters away from the primary tumor.