Radon and your health

Back in 1994 three public health studies on the risk of radon to householders were published. These studies came from Sweden, Canada, and the United States. The Swedish report claimed that the rate of lung cancer in nonsmoking people as well as smokers was increased due to an increase in levels of radon in their homes. However the Canadian report found no link between lung cancer and radon levels. The United States study found small evidence of increasing lung cancer of nonsmoking women with increasing radon levels. In the United States the “radon problem” is given the most attention. There are programs that test the air for radon. If there is radon in the air, the home owner can change the air circulation to reduce the levels, resulting in reducing the risk of lung cancer. But people who do live in a house with high levels of radon will only be there for a few years and will mostly spend their life in a low radon house. This is true because only 7% of houses have high levels. The United States Research Council came up with the conclusion that out of about 22,000 lung cancer deaths per year only 14% of those were associated with the exposure to radon indoors. And 90% of these victims were smokers. This percentage is so high because radon and cigarette smoke are what cause the disease. In the end, the exposure to radon accounted for one quarter of the lung cancer deaths in nonsmokers.
I think everyone should have their household tested for radon. If it can prevent lung cancer, then why not have it done. These programs should be done especially if you live in a house where there are smokers or cigarette smoke. Even if you don’t end up with radon in the air, you are better off safe than sorry.

Baird, Colin. Chemistry in Your Life: Second Edition. “Is radon dangerous to our health?” W.H. Freeman and Company. New York. 2006. Page 631