When you think of ionizing radiation what comes to mind? The most obvious source is extraterrestrial such as cosmic rays generated by the sun. Other examples are nuclear accidents at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania or the public health catastrophe at Chernobyl, Ukraine which sent a cloud of radioactive particles over Eastern Europe. However, you don’t need to live near a nuclear plant to be exposed to dangerous long-term ionizing radiation.
Exposure to ionizing radiation can happen in any building. Uranium is found in the natural environment present in soils and rocks. As uranium decays through radium it produces radon. Radon is a colorless, odorless, and highly toxic gas. The EPA has categorized it as a Class A carcinogen and is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.
The textbook definition of ionizing radiation is “radiation that has enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms thus creating ions.” What you need to know is that short-term exposure to ionizing radiation can cause tissue burns and radiation sickness such as nausea, weakness, and loss of hair. Even low-level exposure over long periods of time can lead to genetic damage by changes of DNA and may lead to cancer.
What does all this have to due with our health? Studies, such as a case-control study in Iowa show positive associations between lung cancer and increased radon exposure. Because of long latency periods, roughly 5-20 years and other factors related to lung cancer (cigarette and asbestos) about 20% of lung cancer may be caused by radon exposure. Factors that govern an individual’s level of exposure are the length of time exposed, distance from radioactive source, and the sources degree of radioactivity.
Some building materials contain uranium such as concrete block, brick, granite, and sheet rock. This can contribute to indoor radon levels, yet most often radon enters a building from the soil up through the foundation. More importantly once radon enters a building it cannot easily escape. Cracks in the floor, walls, and drainage systems increase the level of radon indoors. Therefore, many older buildings, or buildings on land with large traces of radium are at risk for high radon exposure.
The “Living Green from the Ground Up” campaign by the EPA aims to reduce radon in the home and avoid lung cancer. Through awareness and education on radon exposure in the home, the EPA is giving builders an inexpensive tool to create green, cleaner homes.
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