Brian Barton
Radon is a colourless, odourless, and tasteless radioactive gas that is produced by the breakdown of uranium in rocks and soil. It can enter buildings through cracks in the foundation, building materials, and water sources, accumulating in enclosed spaces and leading to health risks, particularly lung cancer. The main source of indoor radon pollution is the infiltration of radon gas from soil into buildings, with certain building materials and water supplies also contributing to exposure.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main source of indoor radon | Radon gas infiltration from soil into buildings |
| How it enters buildings | Cracks in walls, basement floors, foundations, floorboards, drains, windows, gaps in construction, spaces around cables and pipes |
| How it accumulates | Due to its long decay rate, radon accumulates in enclosed spaces |
| Health risks | Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer |
| How to test for radon | At-home radon tests are available, place detectors in the lowest areas suitable for occupancy |
| How to reduce exposure | The EPA has proposed to regulate radon in drinking water from community water suppliers |
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What You'll Learn
Radon in indoor air
Radon is a colourless, odourless, and tasteless radioactive gas that is released from bedrock material and passes through the soil. It is formed by the radioactive breakdown of uranium in the ground, which then decays into radium, and finally, radon gas.
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, responsible for about 20,000 deaths annually in the US. Radon gas decays into radioactive particles that can get trapped in the lungs when inhaled. As these particles break down, they release small bursts of energy that can damage lung tissue and increase the risk of developing lung cancer over time.
The main source of indoor radon is the gas infiltrating from the soil into buildings. Radon can enter buildings through cracks in the floor, gaps in construction, windows, drains, or spaces around cables and pipes. It can also enter through the water supply, particularly in homes with private wells, and natural gas. Radon can dissolve and accumulate in groundwater sources, such as water pumps or drilled wells, and can be released into the air during activities like showering and cooking.
The accumulation of radon indoors is influenced by various factors, including the type of soil, uranium and radium content, porosity, local topology, and meteorological conditions. Radon concentrations indoors can vary among countries and individual buildings due to differences in climate, construction techniques, ventilation, and other factors.
It is important to test homes for radon levels and take steps to mitigate its presence to reduce health risks associated with indoor radon exposure.
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Radon in drinking water
Radon is a radioactive gas that has no colour, smell or taste. It is produced by the natural radioactive breakdown of uranium in rock, soil, and water. Radon is emitted from uranium, a naturally occurring mineral in rocks and soil, and is therefore present virtually everywhere on Earth, but particularly over land. Radon is released from bedrock material and passes through the soil, diluting in the air before entering buildings.
Radon can dissolve and accumulate in water from underground sources (called groundwater), such as wells. Radon concentrations can be measured in terms of a volume of air (becquerel of radon per cubic meter) or a volume of water (becquerel of radon per litre). The average concentration of radon in public water supplies derived from groundwater sources is about 20 becquerel per litre (540 pCi). Some wells have been identified with high concentrations, up to 400 times the average.
When water that contains radon is used in the home for showering, washing dishes, and cooking, radon gas escapes from the water and goes into the air. Some radon also stays in the water. Radon in drinking water is not a concern if your drinking water comes from a surface water source, such as a river, lake, or reservoir, as most radon that might be in the water will be released into the air before reaching your water supplier or home. Radon is only a concern if your drinking water comes from underground, such as a well that pumps water from an aquifer, although not all water from underground sources contains radon.
The EPA estimates that radon in drinking water causes about 168 cancer deaths per year: 89% from lung cancer caused by breathing radon released into indoor air from water, and 11% from stomach cancer caused by consuming water containing radon. However, the risk of developing stomach cancer from radon in drinking water is smaller than the risk of developing lung cancer from radon released into the air from tap water.
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Radon in soil
Radon is a colourless, odourless, and tasteless radioactive gas that is formed by the breakdown of uranium in soil and rock. Uranium is present in all rocks, typically at concentrations of 1-3 ppm, and the uranium content of soil is derived from the rock from which the soil is formed. As uranium breaks down, it forms radium, which then decays into radon gas. Radon is released from bedrock material and passes through the soil, diluting in the air before entering buildings.
The main source of indoor radon is the radon produced by the decay of radium in the soil beneath a building. Radon gas can enter buildings through cracks in the floor, basement floors, foundations, walls, and other openings. It can also enter through 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 the pressure under the building. Radon does not dilute in indoor air as quickly as it does outdoors and tends to accumulate in enclosed spaces, serving as a significant source of public exposure to radiation.
The radon concentration in soil air/gas typically ranges from less than 10,000 Bq/m3 up to 100,000 Bq/m3. Outdoor radon levels are determined mainly by the soil characteristics (uranium/radium content, porosity, and the consequent radon exhalation rate), local topology, and meteorological conditions. In some situations, such as atmospheric temperature inversions in valleys with high radon fluxes from the soil, short-term elevated outdoor radon levels have been observed. High outdoor radon levels are rare but could be of local health significance in areas such as former uranium mining districts.
Radon can also dissolve and accumulate in groundwater sources, such as water pumps or drilled wells in uranium-rich geological areas. However, water tends to be a less significant source of radon exposure than soil beneath buildings. Most building materials produce an insignificant amount of radon naturally, but some specific materials, such as lightweight concrete with alum shale, phosphogypsum, and Italian tuff, can act as significant sources of radon exposure due to their high levels of radium-226 and high porosity.
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Radon in building materials
Radon is a radioactive gas that has no colour, smell, or taste. It is formed by the natural radioactive breakdown of uranium in the ground. It is released from bedrock material and passes through the soil, diluting in the air before entering buildings.
While radon mainly enters buildings through cracks and drains in the foundation, it can also come from building materials. Most building materials produce an insignificant amount of radon naturally. However, some specific materials can act as significant sources of radon exposure. These materials tend to have a combination of high levels of Radium-226 (which decays into radon) and high porosity, allowing the radon gas to escape. Such materials include lightweight concrete with alum shale, phosphogypsum, Italian tuff, and granite. The use of material from old uranium tailings as filling under buildings can also contribute to significant radon concentrations indoors.
Building materials such as brick, marble, and granite contain very low levels of naturally occurring radioactivity. However, as these materials decay, they can emit radon, elevating indoor radon levels. Radon exhalation rates vary widely among building materials, with granite slabs exhibiting higher rates than other decorative materials, such as ceramic or porcelain tiles. Nevertheless, building materials generally make no significant contribution to indoor radon levels in a well-ventilated house.
The presence of radon in building materials is a concern due to the associated health risks. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, and long-term exposure increases the chances of developing this disease. Elevated indoor radon levels can be mitigated by testing and correcting them. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provide guidelines and resources to address radon-related issues.
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Radon in natural gas
Radon is a colourless, odourless, and naturally occurring radioactive gas that is released from bedrock material and passes through the soil. It is formed by the radioactive breakdown of uranium in the ground, which then decays into radium, and finally into radon. Radon is responsible for around 20,000-21,000 cancer deaths in the US every year, with long-term exposure increasing the risk of lung cancer.
Radon can enter buildings through cracks in the floor, gaps in construction, windows, drains, or spaces around cables and pipes. It can also enter buildings through household water, building materials, and the soil underneath homes. The gas can dissolve and accumulate in groundwater sources, such as water pumps or drilled wells.
The main source of indoor radon is the radon produced by the decay of radium in the soil beneath a house. Soil gas containing radon enters a house through cracks and fractures in the foundations by pressure-driven flow, as the air in a house is generally warmer and therefore at a lower pressure than the subjacent soil gas. Radon concentrations in soil air/gas typically range from less than 10,000 Bq/m3 up to 100,000 Bq/m3.
There is some concern that unconventional natural gas development could be increasing radon exposure. The Marcellus Shale, the geological formation feeding Pennsylvania's fracking boom, has particularly high levels of radon. Researchers have questioned whether radon in the Marcellus Shale could be making its way into the natural gas that fuels homes. Bob Lewis, the state's chief radon officer, conducted tests at more than 30 wellheads and similar sampling at natural gas power plants, compressor stations, and storage facilities. The findings showed that residents were receiving small radiation doses from the radon in natural gas. However, it is difficult to determine exactly what percentage of home radon levels are attributable to natural gas, especially in areas with naturally high radon levels, such as Pennsylvania.
The use of natural gas has been found to contribute to radon exposure in buildings. Radon-222 and its decay products can be entrained with gas streams and distributed with gas supplies to commercial and domestic users. The levels of radon in blended gas received by most users are comparable to the levels naturally present in buildings due to ingress from the ground, and this is further diluted during the combustion process. For typical gas usage rates, the estimated dose from natural gas is less than 1% of the dose from radon exposure at the average level in UK homes.
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Frequently asked questions
Radon is a colourless, odourless, and tasteless radioactive gas that is formed by the breakdown of uranium in rocks and soil.
Radon enters buildings through cracks and drains in the foundation, spaces between floorboards, and gaps in construction. It can also enter through windows, drains, or spaces around cables and pipes. Radon can also dissolve and accumulate in groundwater sources, such as water pumps or drilled wells.
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, responsible for thousands of deaths each year. Long-term exposure to radon can increase the risk of developing lung cancer, and people who smoke have an even greater risk. Radon exposure causes no immediate symptoms, but the long-term health effects can be dangerous.
