. Testing results from radon measurements in their home . Time spent in the basement or lower level of the structure ( depending on the type of home ). Type of home foundation ( e . g ., built on a slab , with a crawl space , nished or un nished basement ). Types of ventilation ( opening windows and frequency ) systems in the home .
The ATSDR Case Studies in Environmental Medicine : Taking an Exposure History Course provides more information and a sample form to use when taking an exposure history ( ATSDR 2009 , https :// www . atsdr . cdc . gov / csem / exposurehistory / cover-page . html ).
Medical History
Knowing the complete medical history of a patient who has been exposed to increased radon levels can help in making an accurate diagnosis . To ask about lung function is especially important — the lung is the target organ for inhaled radon .
No signs and symptoms are speci c to increased levels of radon gas exposure .
Typically , radon-associated lung cancer has a long latency period ; many patients exposed to increased levels of radon may be asymptomatic for years . Clinical manifestation of target organ toxicity is based on
Route of exposure Dose Genetic factors Frequency , duration , and intensity of exposure , and Time elapsed since exposure .
Physical Exam
Increased radon exposure can result in lung cancer . But the exposure has no acute or subacute health e ects , no irritating e ects , and no warning signs at levels normally encountered in the environment .
A physical examination of patients with potential exposure to increased radon levels needs to focus on signs and symptoms of the respiratory system . Although physical examination may not provide radon-speci c information , to determine whether radon exposure has or has not occurred is important . The physical examination might be indeterminate for assessing lung cancer speci c to radon exposure . Still , to proceed is clinically reasonable , given that radon is a signi cant environmental cause of lung cancer deaths and may cause lung disease .
Lung cancer ’ s clinical presentation may vary ; some patients may be asymptomatic . In fact , about 25 % of people with lung cancer do not have advanced cancer symptoms from when their lung cancer is detected ( Humphrey 2004 ). When present , lung cancer symptoms may include
Shortness of breath , Persistent cough , Wheezing , Hemoptysis , and Chest pain .