Elevated levels of indoor radon increases the risk of lung cancer. Show
Radon gas decays into solid radioactive particles that can get trapped in your lungs when you inhale them. As they break down further , these particles release small bursts of energy. This can damage lung tissue and lead to lung cancer over the course of your lifetime. Not everyone exposed to elevated levels of radon will develop lung cancer, and the amount of time between exposure and the onset of the disease may be many years. Like other environmental pollutants, there is some uncertainty about the magnitude of radon health risks. However, today radon is considered the second best studied carcinogen, behind only tobacco. The first radon studies focused on uranium miners, but in recent decades, many case-control residential studies have also been conducted in the United States and many other parts of the world. Most developed countries in the world have now established indoor radon action levels. Most range from 2.7 pCi/L (100 Bq/m3) to 8.1 pCi/L (300 Bq/m3) As you can see in the chart below, smoking can multiply the radon risk by approximately 10 times. There are currently no conclusive data on whether children are at greater risk than adults from radon. Your chances of getting lung cancer from radon depend mostly on:
Radon Risk If You Smoke*:
*These lung cancers are in addition to the normal occurrence of lung cancer in the absence of radon. Without any radon exposure, 123 people out of 1,000 male smokers would be expected to get lung cancer; or 58 people out of 1,000 female smokers would be expected to get lung cancer. (BEIR IV Report, National Academy Press, 1988) Radon Risk If You’ve Never Smoked**:
**These lung cancers are in addition to the normal occurrence of lung cancer in the absence of radon. Without any radon exposure, 11 people out of 1,000 male smokers would be expected to get lung cancer; or 6 people out of 1,000 female smokers would be expected to get lung cancer (BEIR IV Report, National Academy Press, 1988). Office of Radiological Health | 109 Governor Street, 7th Floor | Richmond, VA 23219 Telephone (804) 864-8150 | Fax: (804) 864-8155 Radon address searchA report will tell you the estimated probability above the Action Level. Order a report Everything you need to know about radonRadon is a colourless, odourless radioactive gas formed by the radioactive decay of the small amounts of uranium that occur naturally in all rocks and soils. The facts
 The explanationRadon produces a radioactive dust in the air we breathe. The dust is trapped in our airways and emits radiation that damages the inside of our lungs. This damage, like the damage caused by smoking, increases our risk of lung cancer. How can I reduce my risk?
What is the evidence?A European study, funded by Cancer Research UK and the European Commission showed that radon in the home increases the risk of lung cancer1. An independent report, Radon and Public Health estimated that radon is a cause in over 1,100 lung cancer deaths each year in the UK2. Radon risks: detailsThe life-time risk of lung cancer due to radon is greatest for smokers.
Other radiation sourcesAny radiation exposure carries a risk: the higher the exposure the higher the risk. Risks other than lung cancerIt is mainly our lungs that are exposed to and damaged by radon. There is no consistent evidence that radon causes cancers elsewhere, or other harm. Further information
What are the health risks of excessive radon exposure?When you breathe in radon, radioactive particles from radon gas can get trapped in your lungs. Over time, the damage caused by these radioactive particles increases the risk of lung cancer.
What does high levels of radon cause?Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. If you smoke and live in a home with high radon levels, you increase your risk of developing lung cancer. Having your home tested is the only effective way to determine whether you and your family are at risk of high radon exposure.
Can high levels of radon cause cancer?How does radon cause cancer? Radon decays quickly, giving off tiny radioactive particles. When inhaled, these radioactive particles can damage the cells that line the lung. Long-term exposure to radon can lead to lung cancer, the only cancer proven to be associated with inhaling radon.
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