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The general effects of radon to the human body are caused by its radioactivity and consequent risk of radiation-induced cancer. Lung cancer is the only observed consequence of high concentration radon exposures; both human and animal studies indicate that the lung and respiratory system are the primary targets of radon daughter-induced toxicity ...
Radon occurs naturally when uranium in soil or rock breaks down to form radium, which then turns into radon gas. ... who do not smoke and causes 21,000 deaths a year in the United States,” said ...
This increases the risk of harm, as the radon daughters can cause damage to lung tissue. [5] Radon and its daughters are, taken together, often the single largest contributor to an individual's background radiation dose, but due to local differences in geology, [6] the level of exposure to radon gas differs by location. A common source of ...
Radium, like radon, is radioactive and is found in small quantities in nature and is hazardous to life if radiation exceeds 20-50 mSv/year. Radium is a decay product of uranium and thorium. [2] Radium may also be released into the environment by human activity: for example, in improperly discarded products painted with radioluminescent paint.
Radon is probably the most pervasive serious hazard for indoor air in the United States and Europe. It is a major cause of lung cancer, responsible for 3–14% of cases in countries, leading to tens of thousands of deaths. [94] Radon gas enters buildings as a soil gas. As it is a heavy gas it will tend to accumulate at the lowest level.
Alternatively, radon may enter the body through contaminated drinking water or through the decay of ingested radium [3] – making radon diffusion one of the greatest dangers of radium. [10] Thus, 222 Rn is a carcinogen ; in fact, it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States after cigarette smoking , [ 3 ] with over 20,000 ...
The public needs to be aware of radon risks and the means to reduce and prevent these." [2] In 1996 [citation needed], WHO published a report containing several conclusions and recommendations covering the scientific understanding of radon risk and the need for countries to take action in the areas of risk management and risk communication.
Some of these contaminants are easy to detect through human senses, such as smell and taste, and other contaminants are impossible to detect with the human eye. Some of the most dangerous contaminants are consumed without any notice. It is extremely important to know the difference between chemical and biological contaminants.