Toxicological Profile for Radon
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Report to the Legislature: Indoor Air Pollution in California
California Environmental Protection Agency Air Resources Board Report to the California Legislature INDOOR AIR POLLUTION IN CALIFORNIA A report submitted by: California Air Resources Board July, 2005 Pursuant to Health and Safety Code § 39930 (Assembly Bill 1173, Keeley, 2002) Arnold Schwarzenegger Governor Indoor Air Pollution in California July, 2005 ii Indoor Air Pollution in California July, 2005 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report was prepared with the able and dedicated support from Jacqueline Cummins, Marisa Bolander, Jeania Delaney, Elizabeth Byers, and Heather Choi. We appreciate the valuable input received from the following groups: • Many government agency representatives who provided information and thoughtful comments on draft reports, especially Jed Waldman, Sandy McNeel, Janet Macher, Feng Tsai, and Elizabeth Katz, Department of Health Services; Richard Lam and Bob Blaisdell, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment; Deborah Gold and Bob Nakamura, Cal/OSHA; Bill Pennington and Bruce Maeda, California Energy Commission; Dana Papke and Kathy Frevert, California Integrated Waste Management Board; Randy Segawa, and Madeline Brattesani, Department of Pesticide Regulation; and many others. • Bill Fisk, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, for assistance in assessing the costs of indoor pollution. • Susan Lum, ARB, project website management, and Chris Jakober, for general technical assistance. • Stakeholders from the public and private sectors, who attended the public workshops and shared their experiences and suggestions -
What Is Radon?
Biology Unit Radon Alert INVESTIGATION 3 WHAT IS RADON? INTRODUCTION Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. It is formed by the radioactive breakdown of radium, and is found in soils just about everywhere. You cannot see it, taste it, or smell it. It is continuously formed in rocks and soils and escapes into the atmosphere. In some cases, it makes its way into homes, builds up to high concentrations in indoor air, and can become a health hazard. Although there are several different isotopes of radon, the one that is of greatest concern as a potential Radioactivity - the spontaneous human health threat is called radon-222. Radon-222 is emission of energy by certain (radio- formed naturally during a chain of radioactive disintegra- active) atoms, resulting in a change tion reactions (decay series). The decay series begins from one element to another or one when uranium-238 decays. Uranium is widely distrib- isotope to another. The energy can uted in rocks and soils throughout the earth’s crust. It has be in the form of alpha or beta par- a half-life of 4.5 billion years, which means a very slow ticles and gamma rays. breakdown. The decay series is shown schematically in Figure 1. There are eight different elements and 15 different isotopes in the series, beginning with uranium- 238 and ending with lead-206. New elements formed by radioactive disintegration reactions are called decay products. Thus, radium-226 is one of the decay products of uranium-238. Polonium-218 and lead-214 are decay products of radon-222. -
ATSDR Toxicological Profile for Radon
TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR RADON U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry May 2012 RADON ii DISCLAIMER Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the Public Health Service, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. RADON iii UPDATE STATEMENT A Toxicological Profile for Radon, Draft for Public Comment was released in September 2008. This edition supersedes any previously released draft or final profile. Toxicological profiles are revised and republished as necessary. For information regarding the update status of previously released profiles, contact ATSDR at: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences (proposed)/ Environmental Toxicology Branch (proposed) 1600 Clifton Road NE Mailstop F-62 Atlanta, Georgia 30333 RADON iv This page is intentionally blank. RADON v FOREWORD This toxicological profile is prepared in accordance with guidelines* developed by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The original guidelines were published in the Federal Register on April 17, 1987. Each profile will be revised and republished as necessary. The ATSDR toxicological profile succinctly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health effects information for the toxic substances each profile describes. Each peer-reviewed profile identifies and reviews the key literature that describes a substance's toxicologic properties. Other pertinent literature is also presented but is described in less detail than the key studies. The profile is not intended to be an exhaustive document; however, more comprehensive sources of specialty information are referenced. -
Radon-A Physician's Guide: the Health
Radon-A Physician's Guide: The Health Threat With A Simple Solution U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Air and Radiation Indoor Environments Division (6609J) 1. Executive Summary 10. 2. What is Radon? 3. Characteristics and Source of Radon 4. The Health Risk o How does Radon Induce cancer? o What is the Evidence? o Is Occupational Exposure to Radon Comparable to Residential Exposure? 5. What About Smoking and Radon Exposure? The Solution o Why Should Every Home be Tested? o How Do You Obtain a Reliable Test Result? o Radon Testing Methods o Radon Test Devices o How to Test o Interpreting Radon Test Results o Basis for the 4 pCi/L Radon "Action Level" o Radon Reduction Methods 6. Other Indoor Air Pollutants o Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) o Biological Air Pollutants o Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) o Other Combustion Products 7. Most Commonly Asked Questions about Radon 8. State and Regional Radon Contacts 9. Additional Information Sources o Radon Publications o Radon Hotlines Introduction Lung cancer's very high associated mortality rate is even more tragic because a significant portion of lung cancer is preventable. While smoking remains the number one cause of lung cancer, radon presents a significant second risk factor. That is why, in addition to encouraging patients to stop smoking, it is important for physicians to inquire about and encourage patients to test for radon levels in their homes. One way to do this is for physicians to join those health care professionals and organizations who have begun to include questions about the radon level in patients' homes on standardized patient history forms. -
Of the Periodic Table
of the Periodic Table teacher notes Give your students a visual introduction to the families of the periodic table! This product includes eight mini- posters, one for each of the element families on the main group of the periodic table: Alkali Metals, Alkaline Earth Metals, Boron/Aluminum Group (Icosagens), Carbon Group (Crystallogens), Nitrogen Group (Pnictogens), Oxygen Group (Chalcogens), Halogens, and Noble Gases. The mini-posters give overview information about the family as well as a visual of where on the periodic table the family is located and a diagram of an atom of that family highlighting the number of valence electrons. Also included is the student packet, which is broken into the eight families and asks for specific information that students will find on the mini-posters. The students are also directed to color each family with a specific color on the blank graphic organizer at the end of their packet and they go to the fantastic interactive table at www.periodictable.com to learn even more about the elements in each family. Furthermore, there is a section for students to conduct their own research on the element of hydrogen, which does not belong to a family. When I use this activity, I print two of each mini-poster in color (pages 8 through 15 of this file), laminate them, and lay them on a big table. I have students work in partners to read about each family, one at a time, and complete that section of the student packet (pages 16 through 21 of this file). When they finish, they bring the mini-poster back to the table for another group to use. -
Keeping Your Home Safe from RADON
Keeping Your Home Safe From RADON 800-662-9278 | Michigan.gov/radon 08/2019 What is Radon? Radon is a colorless and odorless gas that comes from the soil. The gas can accumulate in our home and in the air we breathe. Radon gas decays into fine particles that are radioactive. When inhaled, these fine particles can damage the lung. Exposure to radon over a long period of time can lead to lung cancer. It is estimated that 21,000 people die each year in the United States from lung cancer due to radon exposure. A radon test is the only way to know how much radon is in your home. Radon can be reduced with a mitigation system. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has created this guide to explain: • How radon accumulates in homes • The health risks of radon exposure • How to test your home for radon • What to do if your home has high radon • Radon policies C Keeping Your Home Safe From Radon Table of Contents Where Does Radon Come From? ............................................. 1 Radon in Michigan ....................................................................... 1 Percentage of Elevated Radon Test Results by County ......... 2 Is There a Safe Level of Radon? ............................................... 3 Radon Health Risks ..................................................................... 4 How Radon Enters the Home ..................................................... 6 Radon Pathways ........................................................................... 7 Radon Testing ............................................................................ -
Health Effects of Radon Exposure
Review Article Yonsei Med J 2019 Jul;60(7):597-603 https://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2019.60.7.597 pISSN: 0513-5796 · eISSN: 1976-2437 Health Effects of Radon Exposure Jin-Kyu Kang1,2, Songwon Seo3, and Young Woo Jin3 1Dongnam Radiation Emergency Medical Center, 2Department of Radiation Oncology, Dongnam Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Busan; 3National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul, Korea. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive material that is formed as the decay product of uranium and thorium, and is estimated to contribute to approximately half of the average annual natural background radiation. When inhaled, it damages the lungs dur- ing radioactive decay and affects the human body. Through many epidemiological studies regarding occupational exposure among miners and residential exposure among the general population, radon has been scientifically proven to cause lung cancer, and radon exposure is the second most common cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. However, it is unclear whether ra- don exposure causes diseases other than lung cancer. Media reports have often dealt with radon exposure in relation to health problems, although public attention has been limited to a one-off period. However, recently in Korea, social interest and concern about radon exposure and its health effects have increased greatly due to mass media reports of high concentrations of radon be- ing released from various close-to-life products, such as mattresses and beauty masks. Accordingly, this review article is intended to provide comprehensive scientific information regarding the health effects of radon exposure. Key Words: Radon, inhalation exposure, lung neoplasm INTRODUCTION ical half-life of 55.6 seconds that comes from decay of thori- um. -
The Effects of Radon on Human Health
HEALTH EFFECTS OF RADON RADIATION & NATURE HEALTH EFFECTS OF RADON 2 WHAT IS RADON? • Natural radioactive gas without colour, smell or taste • Product of uranium decay HEALTH EFFECTS OF RADON 3 RADON PRODUCTION For Radon T1/2 = 3.8 days HEALTH EFFECTS OF RADON 4 RADON & LUNG DAMAGE HEALTH EFFECTS OF RADON 5 WHERE DO WE FIND RADON? High concentration Granite soil HEALTH EFFECTS OF RADON 6 WHY RADON GOES INSIDE HOUSES? It’s physics!!! Buildings are at a lower pressure than the surrounding air & soil. Radon & other soil gases are drawn into the building. When air is exhausted, outside air enters the building to replace it. Much of the replacement air comes from the underlying soil. HEALTH EFFECTS OF RADON 7 HOW RADON IS MEASURED? Radioactivity Becquerel (Bq) 1 Bq = 1 nucleus decay per second For Radon, we measure the amount of radioactivity in air volume for a specific amount of time! So... how many Bq in a cubic metre of air m3?! For how long?! Radon exposure: ρtracks / Cf (Bq * h / m3 ) Radon concentration: exposure /exposition time (Bq / m3) HEALTH EFFECTS OF RADON 8 RADON CONCENTRATION FACTORS The amount of radon changes: o During the day o Between summer and winter o With the air temperature More Radon: Winter & Night HEALTH EFFECTS OF RADON 9 RADON LEVELS AROUND THE WORLD HEALTH EFFECTS OF RADON 10 RADON IN ITALY HEALTH EFFECTS OF RADON 11 RADON IN WATER Exposure to radon: 95% from indoor air 1% from drinking water sources Most of this 1% is from inhalation of radon gas released from running water activities, such as bathing, showering and cleaning. -
Radionuclides (Including Radon, Radium and Uranium)
Radionuclides (including Radon, Radium and Uranium) Hazard Summary Uranium, radium, and radon are naturally occurring radionuclides found in the environment. No information is available on the acute (short-term) noncancer effects of the radionuclides in humans. Animal studies have reported inflammatory reactions in the nasal passages and kidney damage from acute inhalation exposure to uranium. Chronic (long-term) inhalation exposure to uranium and radon in humans has been linked to respiratory effects, such as chronic lung disease, while radium exposure has resulted in acute leukopenia, anemia, necrosis of the jaw, and other effects. Cancer is the major effect of concern from the radionuclides. Radium, via oral exposure, is known to cause bone, head, and nasal passage tumors in humans, and radon, via inhalation exposure, causes lung cancer in humans. Uranium may cause lung cancer and tumors of the lymphatic and hematopoietic tissues. EPA has not classified uranium, radon or radium for carcinogenicity. Please Note: The main sources of information for this fact sheet are EPA's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) (5), which contains information on oral chronic toxicity and the RfD for uranium, and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's (ATSDR's) Toxicological Profiles for Uranium, Radium, and Radon. (1) Uses Uranium is used in nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons. Very small amounts are used in photography for toning, in the leather and wood industries for stains and dyes, and in the silk and wood industries. (2) Radium is used as a radiation source for treating neoplastic diseases, as a radon source, in radiography of metals, and as a neutron source for research. -
A Living Radon Reference Manual
A LIVING RADON REFERENCE MANUAL Robert K. Lewis Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Radiation Protection, Radon Division and Paul N. Houle, PhD University Educational Services, Inc. Abstract This “living” manual is a compilation of facts, figures, tables and other information pertinent and useful to the radon practitioner, some of which can be otherwise difficult to find. It is envisioned as a useful addition to one’s desk and radon library. This reference manual is also intended to be a “living” document, where its users may supply additional information to the editors for incorporation in revisions as well as updates to this document on-line. Topics contained within the current version include radon chemistry and physics, radon units, radon fans, epidemiology, ambient radon, diagnostics, dosimetry, history, lung cancer, radon in workplace and radon statistics. In some cases motivations and explanations to the information are given. References are included. Introduction This reference manual is a compilation of facts, figures, tables and information on various aspects of radon science. It is hoped that this manual may prove useful to federal and state employees, groups such as AARST and CRCPD, and industry. There are numerous other reference manuals that have been produced on the various aspects of radon science; however, we hope that this manual will have a more “applied” use to all of the various radon practitioners who may use it. Many of the snippets on the various pages are highlights from referenced sources. The snippet will obviously only provide one with the briefest of information. To learn more about that item go to the reference and read the whole paper. -
Recalling Radon's Recognition
in your element Recalling radon’s recognition Brett F. Thornton and Shawn C. Burdette look back at the discovery — and the many different names — of element 86. n 1899, Pierre and Marie Curie noted an Thoron, unlike radon, requires no such “induced radioactivity” — left behind by clarification, and 220Rn is routinely called Iradium, distinct from its own radioactivity. thoron today. Thoron is far easier to say Ernest Rutherford and Robert B. Owens also than ‘radon-two-twenty’, perhaps explaining reported that year on a radioactive substance why the annual count of scientific papers 220 ( Rn, t1/2 = 55.6 s) emitted by thorium, which mentioning thoron has increased over twenty- they called emanation. In 1900, Friedrich fold since thoron was ‘disallowed’ in 1957. Dorn realized that the Curies had observed a Distinguishing between 222Rn (the 222 220 unique substance ( Rn, t1/2 = 3.8 d), similar isotope called ‘radon’) and Rn (thoron) is to emanation. In 1904, André-Louis Debierne not of idle linguistic and historic interest. 222 found a third radioactive particle; this one © SUPERSTOCK/ALAMY Rn can persist indoors, whereas the short- 219 produced from actinium ( Rn, t1/2 = 4 s). lived thoron cannot. Not all home radon These were at first regarded as elements and actinon (An) for the three isotopes; detectors (pictured) are sensitive to thoron, and became colloquially known as thorium names suggested by Elliott Q. Adams. and thoron-sensitive detectors must be emanation, radium emanation and actinium An official statement on a name for all placed with care because thoron does not emanation, but today we recognize them three isotopes — that is, a name for the travel far from its source. -
The Noble Gases
INTERCHAPTER K The Noble Gases When an electric discharge is passed through a noble gas, light is emitted as electronically excited noble-gas atoms decay to lower energy levels. The tubes contain helium, neon, argon, krypton, and xenon. University Science Books, ©2011. All rights reserved. www.uscibooks.com Title General Chemistry - 4th ed Author McQuarrie/Gallogy Artist George Kelvin Figure # fig. K2 (965) Date 09/02/09 Check if revision Approved K. THE NOBLE GASES K1 2 0 Nitrogen and He Air P Mg(ClO ) NaOH 4 4 2 noble gases 4.002602 1s2 O removal H O removal CO removal 10 0 2 2 2 Ne Figure K.1 A schematic illustration of the removal of O2(g), H2O(g), and CO2(g) from air. First the oxygen is removed by allowing the air to pass over phosphorus, P (s) + 5 O (g) → P O (s). 20.1797 4 2 4 10 2s22p6 The residual air is passed through anhydrous magnesium perchlorate to remove the water vapor, Mg(ClO ) (s) + 6 H O(g) → Mg(ClO ) ∙6 H O(s), and then through sodium hydroxide to remove 18 0 4 2 2 4 2 2 the carbon dioxide, NaOH(s) + CO2(g) → NaHCO3(s). The gas that remains is primarily nitrogen Ar with about 1% noble gases. 39.948 3s23p6 36 0 The Group 18 elements—helium, K-1. The Noble Gases Were Kr neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and Not Discovered until 1893 83.798 radon—are called the noble gases 2 6 4s 4p and are noteworthy for their rela- In 1893, the English physicist Lord Rayleigh noticed 54 0 tive lack of chemical reactivity.