Topic: Radon is killing at a rate of 21,100 Americans a year. (Read 8691 times)

Mitch · « **on:** September 21, 2006, 01:46:38 AM »

I was a bit surprised at the number myself. The figure is reported in the latest issue of the Journal of Chemical Education, by Charles H. Atwood in the article Radon in Homes: Recent Developments. What was also interesting is that there is no safe amount of radon exposure. Meaning, once some radon decays in your lungs you will be at greater risk of lung cancer. We kind of like to think, "Hey, some chemicals are toxic sure, but a little exposure can't really hurt us?" Well, Radon is not one of those chemicals. Since, terrorists killed 3000 Americans in a single day, you would think the hazards associated with Radon would get more publicity since it kills more Americans annually. But hell, if smoking which kills 160,000 Americans annually falls between the cracks surely radon would too. Attached is a figure taken from the above mentioned paper detailing the areas of the country with the highest risk of Radon.

Mitch

Borek · « **Reply #1 on:** September 21, 2006, 03:23:24 AM »

Quote from: Mitch on September 21, 2006, 01:46:38 AM

What was also interesting is that there is no safe amount of radon exposure. Meaning, once some radon decays in your lungs you will be at greater risk of lung cancer. We kind of like to think, "Hey, some chemicals are toxic sure, but a little exposure can't really hurt us?" Well, Radon is not one of those chemicals.

I recall there was (or is) a discussion in the medical/biological community about whether there exist thing like the harmless dose of anything (especially of radiation). Some take a stand that there is no such thing and it was a driving force of research for many years. However, there is a strong group that states this approach leads nowhere, and there are harmless doses, that can be even beneficial, as they force immunological system to act. Thing is, even if they are right, they are often treated as the industrial lobbyists.

I can't find out reasonable keywords right now to find more on Google, but the controversy around these doses/pollution levels was/is a prominent one, so it should be not that hard to find.

hmx9123 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 21, 2006, 11:10:09 AM »

I remember the discussion, too, about how small amounts of Radon aren't that bad. Strangely, though, my aunt and uncle died of radon exposure--when their house was tested when it was sold, the basement had levels of 500+ppm. That's a little above 'background' and was probably a leading cause to their strange and systemic cancer. Nothing else makes much sense. That's quite out of the ordinary, though.

Mitch · « **Reply #3 on:** September 21, 2006, 11:21:02 AM »

Small radiation exposure is probably healthy. We are constantly bombarded by cosmic radiation as it is. But an alpha particle whizzing through soft lung tissue is a problem on a different scale.

lemonoman · « **Reply #4 on:** September 21, 2006, 11:16:05 PM »

First, let's not pretend that smoking fell through the cracks

...at least here in Canada, you can't even smoke within 10 m of a public building. But I digress.

This Radon stuff is an eye-opener. Again with the Canada stuff here, Carbon Monoxide detectors are all the rage. If Radon's killing this many people, home Radon detectors are probably not too far on the horizon (anyone want to start a business?

)

It probably just doesn't get a lot of thought because it's effects build up over a long time...even hmx9123's aunt and uncle (my condolences, by the way)...500+ ppm and it was cancer that they died of...not a poisoning or suffocation of any kind. Really highlights how Radon gets you in the long term, and you could be totally in the dark about your situation right now.

Donaldson Tan · « **Reply #5 on:** September 22, 2006, 06:44:44 PM »

I never hear of any Radon problems in Southeast Asia.

What is the source of underground Radon?

Mitch · « **Reply #6 on:** September 23, 2006, 03:20:56 AM »

Uranium.