Talk:Radon
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Article changed over to new Wikipedia:WikiProject Elements format by maveric149. Elementbox converted 19:37, 10 July 2005 by Femto (previous revision was that of 18:59, 10 July 2005).
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[edit] Information Sources
Some of the text in this entry was rewritten from Los Alamos National Laboratory - Radon. Additional text was taken directly from USGS Periodic Table - Radon the Elements database 20001107 (via dict.org), and WordNet (r) 1.7 (via dict.org). Data for the table was obtained from the sources listed on the main page and Wikipedia:WikiProject Elements but was reformatted and converted into SI units.
[edit] Dangers
I gather that radon by itself is not of much danger for the organism, because, as an inert gas, it is not absorbed; however, its decay products are dangerous, since they can easily accumulate in the lungs. Can anyone confirm? David.Monniaux 07:40, 13 Aug 2004 (UTC)
- Basically, yes. Lungs and bones, to be specific. --Fastfission 00:35, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Yes, the daughter products are the problem. There is some interesting science here: the lungs normally sweep out by cilial action any dust, to which the radon daughters attach. Rather ironically, if the radon is dust-free the daughter products attach directly to the lung surface where they cause maximum damage since they are far too small to be swept out of the lungs. A "dirty" atmosphere is hence somewhat radiologically healthier.
N.E.Whitehead
[edit] Radioactive
Since it is radioactive shouldn't the article mention its decay path (what it turns into over time and so on)? I do not know chemestry so if you know the answer please tell us, i am interested :). --ShaunMacPherson 18:35, 28 Oct 2004 (UTC)
- I'll add one. --Fastfission 00:37, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC)
The two radon decay products (rdp's)that are capable of significant damage to lung cells are polonium 218 and polonium 214, which like radon, are alpha emitters. The other decay products in the chain are beta and gamma emitters including bismuth and finally becomes lead.
Radon is an inert noble gas which is constantly exhaled and has a relatively long half=life (3.8 days).
The polonium atoms are positively charged solids even if not attached to other particulate matter, so they can become lodged deep within the lungs as well as tissues throughout the respiratory track and have half lives of less than two minutes. The alpha energy from the decay can be devastating to any cell directly impacted. Some radon test devices actually record the pits created by the radioactive decay on specially treated plastic to measure radon levels.
The body has a marvelous ability to fix these little dings just as it protects us from other forms of radiation and environmental hazards. Exposure to elevated levels of radon decay products over a long period of time just increases the risk that the body is not able to repair the damage which can eventually result in a malignacy.
Most radon test results are reported in measurement units referred to as PicoCuries Per Liter (PCi/L).
One PCi/L represents 2.2 radioactive decays per minute per liter of air, so the recommended action level of 4.0 PCi/L would produce approximately 10 radioactive decays per minute per liter of air in that space. We breathe about 20,000 liters of air per day.
The science is true and the risk is real. About 15% of homes nationwide appear to have elevated levels and certain areas of the country do have higher potential than others, but radon levels much higher than 4 Pci/L have been found in many areas historically identified as having low radon potential due to geological abnormalities quite common in nature.
The short-term radon test kits used for screening purposes are inexpensive, in many cases free. Conducting the test is typically a matter of opening the package to place in the lowest lived-in area of the home for 3-7 days. Provide the required information and drop it in the mail. It really doesn't get much easier.
If a radon problem is detected, it can be reduced in almost every situation at a cost comparable to other routine home repairs...$800-$2500 according to EPA.
If short-term results report radon at 4-10 PCi/L, you may want to consider retesting using a long-term test device which provide an actual time integrated result since radon levels do fluctuate and seasonal differences may be significant with tests conducted during the colder months are typically higher than warm weather.
[edit] Spas
Is it really true that there is no evidence behind healhyness of radon spas? I think that the mechanism is somehow also known as activation of DNA repair mechanisms and maybe further immunisation.
Here http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10952746&dopt=Abstract is a study comparing carbon dioxide and radon spas versus artificial carbon dioxide baths alone in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, "CONCLUSION: Marked short-term improvements in both groups at the end of treatment may have masked potential specific therapeutic effects of radon baths. However, after 6 months of follow-up the effects were lasting only in patients of the radon arm. This suggests that this component of the rehabilitative intervention can induce beneficial long-term effects."
regards, tygr007
[edit] Duplicate content
There seem to be two chapters, with duplicate content, regarding the spas. It is explained in both Applications and Radon therapy sections. Perhaps they should be merged somehow. --Bisqwit 10:43, 22 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Health effects content gone
Seems I missed a bad edit in an earlier revert. Marked for split-off anyway, I'm not going to re-include the section, but please also consider this content on the health effects of environmental radon. Femto 13:34, 24 February 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Health Benefits Of Radon
There does seem to be something to it, actually. I know just the title might cause some people to disbelieve this book, but look at the Politically Incorrect Guide to Science . It has footnotes. If something has footnotes, you have to believe it ;) --AimeeLee 21:40, 20 March 2006 (UTC)
- I just found out, that according to http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html the tests for radon risks were done on miners. Doesn't that seem a bit odd to you? Read the article about coal mining in the early and mid 1900's. I don't know whether conditions have changed, but it sounds like it would impact the study. --AimeeLee 22:02, 20 March 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Radon in toothpaste
There was radium in toothpaste, not radon! --Vlad Jaroslavleff 18:24, 25 March 2006 (UTC)
- Yes. Someone mixed up the elements. How can you add a gas with a half-life of 4 d to things? Dr Zak 15:49, 2 May 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Radon in tumor removal
Uh guys, I think I screwed up when adding that part about removing tumors. Could someone please verify it? Starhood` 21:53, 27 September 2006 (UTC)
