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MINNESOTA PREDICTED RADON LEVELS
ZONE 1. RED counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening levels greater than 4 Picocuries per liter (pCi/L).
Zone 2. ORANGE counties have appreciated average indoor radon screening between 2 and 4 Picocuries per liter (pCi/L).
The EPA recommends that your house be less than 4 Picocuries per liter (pCi/L).
The only way to know if your family is living with high levels of radon is to test.
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MECHANISM OF LUNG CANCER INDUCTION
Radon and radon decay products are inhaled in and radon exhaled. The radon decay products remain stuck to lung tissue. Alpha particles strike lung cells causing physical and chemical damage to DNA of lung tissue.
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL DAMAGE TO DNA FROM RADIATION
MOLECULAR DAMAGE CAN BE CAUSED BY TWO EFFECTS;
- Direct energy absorption occurs when DNA are struck directly (physical damage).
- Indirectly, when DNA is damaged and free radicals are created then radiation impacts water molecules surrounding DNA (chemical damage).
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Radon gives off 3 types of radiation;
~ALPHA RADIATION; Massive, moves slowly,
low penetration.
~BETA RADIATION; Smaller mass, moves
faster, penetrates deeper.
~GAMMA RADIATION; No mass, moves at the speed of light, penetrates deepest. |
RADON AND RADON HALF LIFE AS SHOWN IN ABOVE TABLE;
Radon starts out as Uranium (U-338) in the ground and decays into Radium (Ra-226). Still in the ground, it then decays into Radon-222 which is an inert, radioactive gas that becomes airborne! In this form it readily enters buildings and gives off Alpha and Gamma radiation. Thus, the decaying radiation turns into lead-214 which emits Gamma radiation. The breakdown process continues into Bismuth-214 giving off beta and gamma radiation. The Bismuth then breaks down into Polonium-214 which, in turn,give off Alpha and Gamma radiation. Lastly, the decaying compounds convert into lead -210 and are no longer airborne. |
Living with radon level of 10 pCi/L is equal to smoking 1 pack of cigarettes per day.
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