You may have heard about radon, which is a harmful gas. However, most people fail to understand exactly how dangerous it is to human life. Radon is a naturally occurring gas that can make its way into your house through the soil, water, and air. It forms due to the breakdown of radioactive isotopes buried deep inside the soil.
Individuals who smoke and are presented to radon are at a more serious gamble of creating cellular breakdown in the lungs. Radon is a radioactive gas that structures normally when uranium, thorium, or radium, which are radioactive metals separate in rocks, soil and groundwater. Individuals can be presented to radon basically from breathing radon in air that comes through breaks and holes in structures and homes. Since radon falls into place without a hitch from the earth, individuals are constantly presented to it.
Since radon is an invisible and odorless gas, it can be easy to neglect its dangers. Due to these factors, some people also believe in the myth that radon is not dangerous. There are many more misconceptions like this, but it is important to get your home tested for radon to protect yourself.
Common misconceptions about radon gas
- Scientists are not sure if radon is a real problem.
It is true that there are various things about radon that scientists are yet to discover. However, that does not mean that radon’s dangers are unknown. All the major health organizations in the United States, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Medical Association, agree that thousands of people die annually due to radon poisoning. This is especially true for people who smoke tobacco.
- Radon is not dangerous.
This is perhaps one of the most widely spread myths and one of the most dangerous ones to believe in. Just because you cannot see or smell the danger does not mean it is not there. Living in a house with high levels of radon in the air and drinking radon-contaminated water for a long time can lead to the development of cancer in your lungs. The worst part, there is no known cure for radon poisoning.
- Radon and lung cancer research studies are unclear.
Scientists are still researching various radon-related things, but the link between radon and lung cancer has become pretty clear now. There have been various studies that prove radon causes lung cancer. It was first seen in uranium miners who worked for long hours in confined spaces.
When a person breathes in radon particles, they settle in the tiny air sacs in the lungs called alveoli. The energy they give off inside the lungs eventually leads to cancer.
- Radon testing is difficult, time-consuming, and expensive.
This is a complete lie. Radon testing is easy and requires the least of your efforts, especially when you get it done by a professional company. Even if you do it yourself, the process is simple and affordable. All you need to do is buy a DIY kit and keep it in your house for the number of days given in the instructions. Long-term kits are more accurate than short-term ones.
