Radiation is everywhere

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Radiation is everywhere
Cosmic
Inhaled Radon
Bodies
Plants
Radioactive Elements
We live in a sea of radiation
Rocks
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Sources of Personal Radiation Exposure
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RADIATION EXPOSURE

• The average background radiation per person is
  360 millirems (mrem) per yr.
• This varies widely depending on where someone
  lives, and their occupation, health and lifestyle.

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So whats the big deal about Radon?

• Radon radioactive gas found in the soil.
• Results from the radioactive decay of uranium
• Comes from the rocks and soil easily accumulates
  at or below ground level.
• Radon in people's basements is a concern.
• Over half of the 360 mrem dose - 200 mrem - comes
  from radon.

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Background Radiation
Radioactive elements in our bodies
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Radiation comes from the earth Some rocks,
like Uranium are radioactive. So are coal and
some building materials such as granite.
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Other radiation is man-made. Radiation
from X-rays, medical isotopes, televisions,
smoke detectors, nuclear fuel, and weapons
fallout are all man-made sources of radiation.
Man-made Background Radiation
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Radons CharacteristicsAtomic Number 22Mass
Number 222

• Colorless
• Tasteless
• Odorless
• Gas
• Found Everywhere on Earth

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Where does radon gas come from?
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Radon 222 3.8 days
Radium 226 (1620 years)
Uranium 238 4.4 billion years
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Radon Decay Chain
It starts with Uranium 238
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Three types of radioactive decay

• Alpha
• Helium nucleus (2 protons/2 neutrons)
• Positively charged
• Heavy and slow moving
• Absorbed by skin stopped by paper
• Poor penetrating power
• Dangerous when ingested or inhaled

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Beta a) Fast moving electron with little mass b)
More penetrating than alpha c) Stopped by 5mm
aluminum or wood
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• Gamma
• Weightless packets of energy called photons
• No charge or mass
• Moves at the speed of light
• Very penetrating can pass through the body
• Stopped by 2 concrete or thick lead
• Kills living cells

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How Does Exposure Happen?

• Radon measured in picocurie (pCi), which is the
  rate of radioactive decay of radon.
• EPAs recommended action level
• (4 pCi/L)
• That is the level that EPA recommends that
  homeowners take action to reduce radon levels in
  the home

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Health Effects of Radon

• Indoors radon is estimated to cause about 21,000
  lung cancer deaths per year in the U.S.
• Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer
  in the U.S. today. About 12 of lung cancers in
  the U.S. are attributable to radon.

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SYNERGISM
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How radon enters the lungs
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Healthy Lung Cancerous Lung
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Environmental Risk Comparisons (deaths per year)

• Drunk Driving 22,000
• Radon 21,000
• Drownings 5000
• Fires 4000
• Airplane Crashes 2100

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RADON TEST KIT

• Place in the basement or lowest habitable area of
  the home
• Close all windows and doors for at least 12 hours
  prior to testing
• Place kit 3 off floor

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House Foundation Types
Crawl Space
Slab on Grade
Basement
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SUB SLAB VENTILATIONallow the radon gas to
enter the home
Fan draws radon away from house
Sub Slab Ventilation
Sealant
Sub slab ventilation