Facts About Radon
Radon health risks in schools can be significantly reduced . Schools can take action today to implement a program to test schools for radon and install radon mitigation systems if needed .
This document provides the following information to help address radon risk reduction in schools :
• Facts about radon
• Program implementation strategies
• Examples of state laws and policies for testing requirements in schools
• Additional resources
Facts About Radon
What Radon Is
Radon is an odorless , tasteless , colorless naturally occuring radioactive gas emitted from the ground .
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas released in rock , soil , and water from the natural decay of uranium . It moves up through the ground to the air above and can enter a building or home through cracks in walls , basement floors , foundations , and other openings . You cannot see , taste or smell radon , but exposure to radon can increase a person ’ s risk of developing lung cancer .
Health Effects of Radon
The EPA ranks indoor radon among the most serious environmental health problems facing us today . The EPA estimates that around 21,000 people die from radon-induced lung cancer each year in the U . S . 2
Lung cancer is the only confirmed health effect of radon . There are no immediate symptoms from radon , but longterm exposure can eventually lead to lung cancer . Overtime , radon breaks down into radioactive particles known as radon decay products . These decay products can become trapped in the lungs when inhaled and damage lung tissue by emitting radiation . While radon is proven to cause cancer , not everyone exposed to elevated radon levels will develop lung cancer . According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ), people who smoke tobacco and live in homes with high radon levels have a risk of lung cancer that is ten times higher than people who do not smoke and live in homes with high radon levels . 6
There is no medical test for radon exposure . The only way to find out an individual ’ s radon exposure is to test the inside of buildings like homes and schools , where most of the time is spent .
How Radon is Measured
Radon is measured by picocuries per liter of air ( pCi / L ), a measurement of radioactivity . Since radon occurs naturally , a person can never completely get away from it . According to the EPA , radon levels average about 1.3 pCi / L inside and 0.4 pCi / L outside homes and buildings across the country . 4
Radon can occur at elevated levels in any type of building , whether it is new or old , well-insulated or drafty , or with or without a basement . The only way to know the radon levels in a building is to test .
2 1-800-LUNGUSA | Lung . org