We are continuously exposed to radioactivity in everyday life. Some of the most familiar sources of radiation include microwave ovens in our kitchens and the radios we listen to in our cars. Most of the radiation we are exposed to carries no risk to our health.
One source of natural radiation that presents a danger is radon - a radioactive gas with no colour, smell or taste. It is released from bedrock material and passes through the soil. It then tends to dilute in the air, so outdoors, radon poses no harm to human health.
On the other hand, indoor radon is dangerous and numerous studies have confirmed that even moderate concentrations - commonly found in residential buildings and at workplaces - pose health risks. High concentrations of indoor radon are particularly dangerous since prolonged exposure through inhalation significantly increases the risk of lung cancer.
Chemical elements which decay into radon, such as uranium, thorium and radium can be present in soil, water and construction materials. IAEA safety standards establish concentrations of radon in homes and at workplaces to protect the people's health.
What are the risks from exposure to radon?
Radon accounts for around a half of all human exposure to radiation. It is also the most important cause of lung cancer after smoking and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. According to WHO, radon is estimated to cause between 3% to 14% of all lung cancers. Depending on the average radon level indoors and smoking prevalence, long-term exposure can significantly increase the risks. The risk of lung cancer from radon is substantially greater for smokers: they are around 25 times more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers, according to theWHO.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified radon as a proven human carcinogen as along with tobacco smoke, asbestos and benzene.
What are the different variations of radon?
Radon occurs naturally in significant quantities in three different chemical variations, or isotopes, but only two of these present a risk.
Radon-222 - a product of Uranium-238 or Radium-226 decay - is the most dangerous one. It has a long decay rate, so it can accumulate indoors, and it is quite common due to high concentrations of Uranium-238 in the ground in some regions, as well as due to varying concentrations of Radium-226 in certain building materials. Sometimes together with Radon-220 - a product of Thorium-232 decay - Radon-222 acts as the main contributor to radiation exposure for the public. In terms of the protection to be provided, no differentiation is made between these two causes of exposure.
Radon-219 is not considered dangerous .
How are we exposed to radon?
Radon is a radioactive gas that has no colour, smell or taste. It is produced in the ground from uranium and diffuses into the atmosphere. High concentrations of radon may build up in enclosed spaces such as buildings and long-term exposure can increase the risk of lung cancer.
Radon in indoor air
Radon concentrations indoors tend to differ among countries and even individual buildings because of differences in climate, construction techniques, types of ventilation provided, domestic habits and, most importantly, geology.
After released from bedrock material, radon passes through the soil, diluting in the air before entering buildings. Granites, migmatites, some clays and tills are particularly rich in uranium and radium, which decay into radon. Radon exhalating from the ground beneath buildings is the main source of radon in indoor air.
Radon may enter buildings through cracks in the floor, gaps in construction, windows, drains or spaces around cables and pipes. This is particularly common in temperate and cold regions due to the pressure driven flow of gas which arises because buildings are normally at a slight underpressure compared to pressure under the building.
Radon does not dilute in indoor air as quickly as outside and tends to accumulate in the enclosed spaces of buildings, serving as a significant source of public exposure to radiation.
Radon in water
Radon can dissolve and accumulate in groundwater sources, such as water pumps or drilled wells in uranium rich geological areas. Radon in water can be released into the air during routine water use such as showering or laundry.
Epidemiological studies have not confirmed a connection between consumption of drinking water containing radon and an increased risk of stomach cancer, so the associated risks of lung cancer come primarily from radon released into the air and inhaled. In general, water tends to be a less significant source of radon exposure than soil beneath buildings.
Radon in building materials
Most building materials produce an insignificant amount of radon naturally. At the same time, some specific materials can act as significant sources of radon exposure. Such materials tend to have a combination of high levels of Radium-226 (which decays into radon) and high porosity, which allows the radon gas to escape. These include lightweight concrete with alum shale, phosphogypsum and Italian tuff. Use of material from old uranium tailings (by products of uranium mining) as filling under the buildings can also contribute to significant concentrations of radon indoors.
How can we reduce the radon levels?
High levels of radon in buildings can be reduced by various corrective actions. One approach is based on preventing radon from entering the indoor environment through isolation in combination with indoor air pressure manipulation. Attention should also be paid to the thermal retrofitting of existing buildings as low ventilation rates decrease the overall quality of indoor air and can increase radon levels.
Preventing radon accumulation in newly built houses is now included in many national building codes. This approach is normally cheaper than corrective actions and is often highly cost-effective compared with other public health interventions.
Frequent ventilation is also helpful.
