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Radon Essay Research Paper RadonRadon is a

Radon Essay, Research Paper


Radon


Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive element that can be found in


soil, underground water, and outdoor air. Some of the properties of this gas


include being odorless, tasteless, and colorless. The concentrations vary


throughout the country depending on the types of rocks that are found in the


soil. Exposure over prolonged periods of time to radon decay products has been


associated with an increased risk of lung cancer.(3) The EPA describes an


elevated concentration as being at or above their suggested guidelines of 4pCi/l


(pico Curies per liter, used as a radiation unit of measure for radon).


Exposures below this level may create a risk of lung cancer, farther reductions


to lower levels may be too difficult or even impossible to achieve.(4)


Radon enters buildings through: exposed soil in crawl spaces, through


cracks, openings in floors, and through below grade walls and floors. This is


the primary source of elevated radon levels in buildings.(5) Outdoor air


contains radon, but it is in extremely low concentrations therefore it is not a


health hazard. Some wells contain water that has radon dissolved in it. This


can be a hazard if the water is agitated or heated, allowing the gas to escape


and elevate the levels that are in the building.(6)


Health Risk


The Surgeon General’s office reports that indoor radon gas is a national


health problem. This gas causes thousands of deaths every year.(7) These


deaths are a result of lung cancer, which is caused by the radioactive particles


that make up the gas.(8) The likelihood of getting lung cancer from radon


depends on: the concentration that you are exposed to, the amount of time that


you are exposed, and whether you smoke or not. The radioactive particles are


inhaled when we breathe, and become trapped in the lungs. Once in the lungs


they release small amounts of energy that can damage the tissue of the lungs


which in turn can cause cancer.(9)


Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, with smoking being


number one according to the Surgeon Generals office.(10) Smoking greatly


increases the risk of getting lung cancer. Non smokers are allot less likely to


get lung cancer from radon than smokers.(11) Radon is a big problem because a


majority of the population spends most of its time indoors. This increases the


amount of time that they are exposed, and the likelihood that they will get lung


cancer.(12)


Where Radon Originates


Radon is created by the radioactive decay of uranium found in rocks,


soil, and water. Uranium and its by products of decay, namely radon are


abundant and are constantly being generated.(13) Radon is capable of easily


traveling through rocks and soil.(14) The gas is also found dissolved in water,


due to decay in the soil or rock below.(15)


Radon in Water


The risk from radon in water is much lower than the risk from radon in


air. This is because the water must be heated or agitated to release the gas.


This can happen in a shower, boiling water on a stove, or by using a washing


machine. Most public water supplies don’t present a radon risk, this is because


the water is aerated at the treatment site and the gas escapes into the


atmosphere. Most water that contains hazardous amounts of radon comes from


wells. Wells should be tested for radon if the building that they are supplying


contains hazardous amounts in the air. The testing procedures for water are


different from those used on air.(16)


Water containing radon can usually be treated. The most effective


treatment is to remove radon from the water before it enters the home, this is


called point of entry treatment. Water can also be treated at the tap, this is


known as point of use treatment. However this treatment is much less effective


at removing the risk.(17)


Radon Entry


Radon travels through the ground and into the air, allowing the gas to


easily enter buildings and homes. There are many ways that the gas can enter a


building. Cracks in concrete slabs allow the gas to enter through the floor.


The gas also enters through pores and cracks that are found in concrete


foundations. Faulty wall to floor joints also allow entry. Exposed soil


creates more radon as uranium decays within the soil. A weeping drain tile that


is drained to an open sump will cause radon to enter the home more easily.


Loose pipe fittings will allow enough of an opening to let radon gas enter.


Open tops of block walls let the gas move from the foundation and release in an


open area. Also certain building materials, such as rock used in interior


construction of fireplaces, will release the gas. Domestic u

se of well water


allows the gas to enter through showers and through agitation processes.


Testing


The EPA reports that radon has been found in homes all across the United


States.(18) Testing is the essential key to knowing whether a home is at risk


from radon.(19) To test for radon special equipment must be used.(20) There


are a number of different devices for testing for radon on the market today.


Some devices are known as passive devices, and require no power to operate.


They consist of charcoal canisters, alpha track devices and charcoal liquid


scintillation. All of these devices are relatively simple, and can be purchased


at hardware stores. These devices are exposed to air in the building for a


specified length of time and then sent out to a processing laboratory for


analysis.(21) Active devices are test equipment that requires power to operate.


These devices continuously monitor for radon. They do this by recording the


amount of radon that is decaying in the building’s air. This type of testing is


more costly because it requires a professional, as well as expensive


equipment.(22) Testing can either be long term or short term. Long term tests


run for more than ninety days. Alpha track devices are most commonly used for


this type of test. The most common short term tests are charcoal canisters and


continuous monitors.(23)


Reducing Radon Levels


There are a number of methods that can be used to reduce the amounts of


radon that enter a building. Soil suction is one such method, it draws the


radon from below the building and vents it to the atmosphere, where it is


quickly diluted. Another method is active subslab suction, this is the most


common method. It uses suction pipes that are inserted through the floor slab


into the soil beneath it. These pipes use a fan to pull the gas out from below


the house and up into the atmosphere. Another method is known as passive


subslab suction, it is the same as active subslab suction except that it uses


air currents in place of the fan. Drain tiles can be used to direct water away


from the foundation. Yet another method is sump hole suction, this method is


used in basements that have sump pump. By capping the pump, it can continue to


drain water and serve as a location for a radon suction device. Ventilation is


another popular method of removing the gas. Sometimes just opening the basement


windows is enough other times the use of a fan may be required. Sealing cracks


in the foundation also helps to prevent some gas from entering and it also helps


reduce the loss of heated or cooled air. Another type of ventilation is heat


recovery ventilation, it will increase the air circulation and will use heated


or cooled air that is being exhausted to warm or cool the incoming fresh


air.(24)


Conclusion


In conclusion, radon causes many problems. According to the surgeon


general’s office it is the second leading cause of cancer.(25) This is due to


the radioactive particles decaying in the lungs and releasing energy that can


cause tissue destruction that leads to cancer. Radon is found almost everywhere.


So it must be dealt with. Some common ways are to reduce the amounts of the gas


that enter the home are sealing cracks and ventilating the building. Due to the


gas being colorless and odorless special testing equipment was designed to


monitor it. This testing should be done by homeowners and business owners that


are concerned about the safety of inhabitants. Through testing and corrective


measures radon can effectively be dealt with.


Citations


1. Radon Reduction in New Construction. Washington: GPO, March, 1993. 2. Home


Buyer’s and Sellers Guide to Radon. Washington: GPO, March, 1993. 3. Murphy,


James. “The Colorless, Odorless Killer”. TIME: July, 1985: P.72 4. ibid. P.21


5. Consumers Guide to Radon Reduction. Washington: GPO, August, 1992. P.4 6.


ibid. P.5 7. A Guide to Radon. Washington: GPO, September, 1993. P.14 8. ibid.


P.9 9. ibid. P.15 10. ibid. P.3 11. ibid. P.3 12. ibid. P.5 13. ibid. P.6


14. ibid. P.13 15. ibid. P.7 16. ibid. P.2 17. ibid. P.2 18. Murphy, James.


“The Colorless, Odorless Killer”. TIME: July, 1985: P.72 19. A Guide to Radon.


Washington: GPO, September, 1993. P.14 20. ibid. P.9 21. ibid. P.19 22. ibid.


P.19 23. ibid. P.6 24. ibid. P.17 25. ibid. P.2


Bibliography


1. A Guide to Radon. Washington: GPO, September, 1993


2. Consumers Guide to Radon Reduction. Washington: GPO, August, 1992.


3. Home Buyer’s and Sellers Guide to Radon. Washington: GPO, March, 1993.


4. Murphy, James. “The Colorless, Odorless Killer”. TIME: July, 1985


5. Radon Reduction in New Construction. Washington: GPO, March, 1993.

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