2. RADON: What is it anyway? Hennepin County Community Health Department Health Protection, Epidemiology and Environmental Health

3. What Is Radon? n Naturally occurring n Chemical element n Radioactive gas

4. Physical Properties Of Radon n Colorless n Odorless n Tasteless

5. Physical Properties Of Radon (Continued) n Atomic number 86, Symbol Rn n Atomic weight: 222 –Heaviest of the Noble gases n Virtually always in the gas phase –Boiling point: » -62 degrees C (-79.6 degrees F) –Melting point: » -71 degrees C (-95.8 degrees F)

6. Physical Properties Of Radon (Continued) n Soluble in water –increasing solubility with decreasing temperature –When tap water is warmed up, it releases the radon that is in solution. »Cooking, showering, laundering, etc.

7. Chemical Properties Of Radon n Inert gas, virtually unreactive –Allows it to move through soil n Forms some clatherate compounds –Trapped within the structure of another molecule, but not actually part of that molecule

8. Where Can Radon Be Found? n The soil is the major source n Groundwater Oceans Ambient air Indoor air

9. Factors That Influence The Amount Of Radon In The Soil n Porosity & permeability of the soil n Radium & Uranium content of the soil n Moisture content of the soil n Bedrock type

10. Product Of The Radioactive Decay Of Uranium

11. Importance Of Radon Decay Products n They have shorter half-lives and decay more rapidly n Decay products have a charge and can cling to lung tissue

12. FACT: Ionizing Radiation is a Hazard to Humans and Animals n Sources of ionizing radiation include: –nuclear power plants –x-rays –uranium n The hazard increases with the amount of radiation and the exposure (time) n The safest level of radiation is ZERO

13. FACT: When Radon Decays, It Produces Radiation n Radon is a human carcinogen n The safest level of radon is ZERO

14. Why Is Radon Important? n Classified as a “Known Human Carcinogen” by the World Health Organization n Classified as a Class “A” Carcinogen by U.S. EPA –in the same group as benzene, asbestos, and mustard gas

15. Health Effects Of Radon n Second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States –Estimated to cause 14,000 deaths every year –Second only to smoking

16. Comparison Of Radon With Other Causes Of Death n Radon causes more deaths per year than drownings, fires, and airline crashes combined!! Drunk Driving Radon Drowning Fires Airline Crashes

17. Types Of Radiation: Alpha Particles n Massive size n Made up of 2 protons and 2 neutrons n Charge of +2 n Relatively slow speed + + 0 0

18. Types Of Radiation: Beta Particles n Very small n Made up of an electron n Charge of -1 n High speed

19. n No mass n No charge n Travels at the speed of light Types Of Radiation: Gamma Rays

20. Radon Decay Products

21. Penetrating Power Of The Different Forms Of Radiation n Alpha particles cannot penetrate more than one cell thickness –Lung tissue is only one cell thick n Beta particles can penetrate into the skin n Gamma rays will go through brick and concrete walls alpha beta gamma

22. How Does Radon Cause Lung Cancer? n Radon inhaled n Alpha particles attached to lung cells by electrical charge n Alpha particles release energy n Burst of energy may cause: –Cell to die, –Cell to fail to reproduce, or –Cell to mutate genetic material (DNA) »Mutation can cause cancer

23. Radon Levels Are Equivalent To: n 200 x-rays per year at the 2 pCi/L level n Smoking 1/4 pack of cigarettes a day or 400 x-rays per year at the 4 pCi/L level n 1000 x-rays per year at the 10 pCi/L level n 1 pack of cigarettes per day or 2000 x-rays per year at the 20 pCi/L level

24. What Level of Radon is Considered Safe? n There is no safe level of radon n EPA recommends that all homes with radon levels of 4 picoCuries/L or more be mitigated –Not a health based standard –Based on mitigation technology

25. Radon and Smoking n There is a synergistic effect between radon and tobacco smoking n Smokers are 15 times more likely to develop lung cancer at the 4 picoCurie/liter level than non-smokers

26. Radon and Smoking n Smokers can reduce their risk for lung cancer by reducing exposure to radon

27. How Are Radon Levels Measured? n picoCuries/liter of air (pCi/L) –A picoCurie is equal to 2.22 radioactive disintegrations per minute per liter of air n Becquerel –One becquerel is equal to 1 radioactive disintegration per second n Working Levels –A measure of radon decay products –1 Working Level is equal to the amount of decay products produced by 100 pCi/L

28. Your Chances Of Developing Cancer Due To Radon Depend On: n The levels of radon in your home n The amount of time you spend in your home n Whether or not you are a smoker, or have ever been a smoker

29. The Amount Of Time You Spend In Your Home n The average person in the United States spends about 115 hours in the home every week. n Because of the great amount of time spent in the home, even low levels of radon can be dangerous

30. Average Radon Levels n Indoor- 1.3 picoCuries/liter n Outdoor- 0.4 picoCuries/liter

31. How Does Radon Get Into Your Home? n Cracks in the floors n Pores and cracks in concrete blocks n Floor-wall joints n Exposed soil n Expansion joints n Holes for pipes n Well water n Some building materials

32. Is Radon A Problem In Your Area? n High radon levels have been found all over the world n High radon levels have been found in all 50 states –EPA estimates that 1 in 15 homes have high radon levels in the US

33. Is Radon A Problem In Your Area? (Continued) n Homes in Minnesota have been found to have high levels of radon n Hennepin County is considered to be in an area of high potential for radon (Zone I) I II HENNEPIN COUNTY

34. Number Of Homes With High Radon Levels n The Minnesota Department of Health estimates that 1 in 3 homes in Minnesota have high radon levels n The Hennepin County radon data suggests that 1 in 2 homes in Hennepin County has a radon problem HENNEPIN COUNTY

35. Testing For Radon n It’s easy –Takes no special skills –Only takes a couple of minutes of your time n It’s inexpensive –Most radon detector kits cost under $25

36. Short-term Radon Detectors n Charcoal canisters –2 to 7 days n Charcoal bag –4 to 7 days n Liquid Scintillation Cell –2 to 7 days Canister Radon Detector Liq. Sci Detector Charcoal Bag Dectector

37. When Should You Reduce Your Radon Levels? n If your levels are between 4 and 20 pCi/L: –reduce levels to below 4pCi/L within 1 or 2 years n If your levels are greater than 20 pCi/L: –reduce levels to below 20pCi/L within 2 months, than to below 4 pCi/L within 2 years

38. When Should You Test? n It is better to test between October and April (the heating season) because homes are sealed up n You can test anytime during the year, but you are more likely to get the maximum levels during the heating season October-April 1999 - 2000

39. Short-term Measures That Can Help Reduce Your Risk From Radon n Stop smoking indoors n Reduce the amount of time you spend in areas with high radon levels n Open windows on all sides of the house n Open vents in the crawl space n Close and seal off the basement n Increase the ventilation rate

40. FACTS: n Radon is a human carcinogen n Radon testing is easy and inexpensive n Radon doesn’t have to be a problem in your home

41. Keep Your Family Safe Test Your Home for RADON

42. Contacts For More Information n U.S. Environmental Protection Agency n Minnesota Department of Health n Hennepin County Community Health Department n... or your Local Health Department n Minnesota Extension Service n American Lung Association of Minnesota n Midwest Universities Radon Consortium

43. Acknowledgments n This presentation was developed by the Ramsey County Department of Public Health with information provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Public Health Service, Minnesota Department of Health, Hennepin County Community Health Department, American Lung Association of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Extension Service.