what are the health risks of radon?
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When you breathe in radon, radioactive particles from radon gas can get trapped in your lungs. Over time, these radioactive particles increase the risk of lung cancer. It may take years before health problems appear. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking.
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The Marble Institute of America notes that many other items in and around a home also can emit radon. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says most granite countertops are safe, adding little to a house's radon level.
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Uranium eventually decays to radium. Radium decays to release a radioactive gas called radon. Open pit uranium milling and in situ mining sites do not pose a significant radon risk to the public or to miners; the radon disperses into the atmosphere. ... Underground mines can present a radiation hazard to miners.
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['Location.', 'Radiation.', 'Quality.', 'Severity.', 'Associated symptoms.', 'Aggravating factors.', 'Timing.']
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Cancer risk factor facts* The most common risk factors for cancer include aging, tobacco, sun exposure, radiation exposure, chemicals and other substances, some viruses and bacteria, certain hormones, family history of cancer, alcohol, poor diet, lack of physical activity, or being overweight.
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['lung cancer.', 'emphysema.', 'chronic bronchitis.', 'cancer, especially in the respiratory system.', 'leukemia.', 'heart disease.', 'stroke.', 'diabetes.']
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Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States, though it usually takes 5 to 25 years to develop.
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['cancer and other tumours.', 'damage to fertility and reproduction.', 'DNA damage.', 'damage to other biological processes.', 'health of children and young people.']
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['Cardiovascular diseases.', 'Liver disease.', 'Respiratory infections.', 'Cancer.', 'Nerve Damage.', 'Ulcers.']
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['biological or internal factors, such as age, gender, inherited genetic defects and skin type.', 'environmental exposure, for instance to radon and UV radiation, and fine particulate matter.', 'occupational risk factors, including carcinogens such as many chemicals, radioactive materials and asbestos.', 'lifestyle-related factors.']
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If you think you've been exposed Possible symptoms include shortness of breath (difficulty breathing), a new or worsening cough, pain or tightness in the chest, hoarseness, or trouble swallowing. If you smoke and you know you've been exposed to high levels of radon, it's very important to quit smoking.
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Environmental hazards increase the risk of cancer, heart disease, asthma, and many other illnesses. These hazards can be physical, such as pollution, toxic chemicals, and food contaminants, or they can be social, such as dangerous work, poor housing conditions, urban sprawl, and poverty.
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['Low immune functioning.', 'Adverse climatic conditions and intolerable air pollution.', 'Excessive exposure to smoke and other toxic materials.', 'Inappropriate development of lungs during childhood/before birth.', 'Presence of fungal, viral and bacterial infections.']
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There is always a risk of damage to cells or tissue from being exposed to any amount of ionizing radiation. Over time, exposure to radiation may cause cancer and other health problems. But in most cases, the risk of getting cancer from being exposed to small amounts of radiation is small.
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Health problems associated with depleted uranium DU is a potential health hazard if it enters the body, such as through embedded fragments, contaminated wounds, and inhalation or ingestion. This is because U's radiation, while of high energy, penetrates poorly through tissues in the body.
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Radon is a chemical element with the symbol Rn and atomic number 86. It is a radioactive, colorless, odorless, tasteless noble gas. ... Its most stable isotope, 222Rn, has a half-life of only 3.8 days, making radon one of the rarest elements since it decays away so quickly.
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Every building contains radon but the levels are usually low. In some parts of the country homes may have higher levels, and the chances of a higher level depend on the type of ground.