Radon is a radioactive gas that forms naturally when uranium, thorium, or radium, which are radioactive metals break down in rocks, soil and groundwater. People can be exposed to radon primarily from breathing radon in air that comes through cracks and gaps in buildings and homes. Because radon comes naturally from the earth, people are always exposed to it. The U. When you breathe in radon, radioactive particles from radon gas can get trapped in your lungs.
Over time, these radioactive particles increase the risk of lung cancer. It may take years before health problems appear. People who smoke and are exposed to radon are at a greater risk of developing lung cancer. No special skills or materials are required when adding radon-resistant features as a new home is being built. While the techniques may vary for different house foundations and building site requirements, the five basic features that builders should include to prevent radon from entering a home are:.
A new home buyer may ask the builder about these features, and if not provided, may ask the builder to include them in the new home. If a home is tested after the buyer moves in and an elevated level of radon is discovered, the owner's cost of fixing the problem can be much more.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. ToxFAQs for Radon. Accessed at www. Residential radon exposure and risk of lung cancer in Missouri. Am J Public Health. Radon exposure and cancers other than lung cancer in underground miners: A collaborative analysis of 11 studies. J Natl Cancer Inst.
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Lung cancer risk from residential radon: Meta-analysis of eight epidemiologic studies. Case-control study of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and residential radon exposure. National and regional distribution of airborne radon concentrations in US homes. Health Phys. Morganstern H. Ecologic studies in epidemiology: Concepts, principles, and methods. Ann Rev Public Health. National Cancer Institute.
Radon and Cancer. National Toxicology Program. Residential radon and risk of lung cancer in an Italian alpine area. Arch Environ Health. Radon exposure and mortality among white and American Indian uranium miners: An update of the Colorado Plateau cohort.
A review of ecological studies of lung cancer and indoor radon. American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy. Download this topic [PDF]. Sun and Other Types of Radiation. Radon and Cancer What is radon? How are people exposed to radon?
As with most home repairs, the cost of reducing radon in your home can vary widely, depending on how your home is built whether you have a basement, crawlspace, or neither and what kind of system you need. There are no widely available medical tests to measure whether you have been exposed to radon. But if you think that you might have been, talk with your doctor about whether you should get regular health checkups and tests to look for possible signs of lung cancer. Possible symptoms include shortness of breath difficulty breathing , a new or worsening cough, pain or tightness in the chest, hoarseness, or trouble swallowing.
The combination of cigarette smoking and radon exposure raises the risk of lung cancer more than either smoking or radon exposure alone. For some people exposed to radon through their jobs, like uranium miners, millers and transporters, the US government has established the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program.
It offers compensation for lung cancer and some other lung diseases to people who qualify. The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team. Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
American Cancer Society news stories are copyrighted material and are not intended to be used as press releases.
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