Radon
Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that seeps into a house from the surrounding earth as a
natural byproduct of the natural decay of uranium present in the earth.
Radon present in surrounding soil or in well water can be a source of radon in a home. Radon typically
enters a home through small spaces and openings, such as cracks in concrete, floor drains, sump pump openings, wall/floor
joints in basements, and the pores in hollow block walls. If a home is supplied with water taken from a well, the likelihood
of radon presence is greater. Radon levels generally decrease as one moves higher up in the structure.
Radon gas breaks down or "decays" into radioactive particles or "decay products" that remain in the air.
As you breathe these particles, they can become trapped in your lungs. As these particles continue to break down, they release
bursts of energy (radiation) that can damage lung tissue. This damage can cause lung cancer. The health risk associated with
prolonged inhalation of radon decay products is an increased risk of developing lung cancer. There are indications that risk
increases as the level of radon concentration and duration of exposure increase. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
is very cautious about radon. It is their assessment that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, behind cigarette
smoke.
