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From: sra@oddjob.UUCP (Scott R. Anderson)
Newsgroups: net.rumor
Subject: Re: Re: Reading Radon
Message-ID: <1055@oddjob.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 17-Nov-85 16:01:53 EST
Article-I.D.: oddjob.1055
Posted: Sun Nov 17 16:01:53 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 18-Nov-85 07:40:45 EST
References: <1837@hao.UUCP> <3265@think.ARPA> <296@cray.UUCP>
Reply-To: sra@oddjob.UUCP (Scott R. Anderson)
Distribution: net
Organization: University of Chicago, Department of Physics
Lines: 21
Summary: 

In article <296@cray.UUCP> sja@cray.UUCP (Sheridan Adans) writes:
>Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the decay of  
>uranium and radium (half-life 3.8 days).  It decays to several different
>radioactive isotopes and finally to lead.  The danger is if the solid 
>particles are breathed in and lodge in the lungs, some of the different 
>isotopes emit high energy sub-atomic particle which can cause cell damage       and lead to the formation of cancerous cells.
>
>The good news is that: (1) Current estimates are that only 1 to 2 percent of
>the homes in the US have levels above recommended guidelines.
>(2) There are steps that can be taken to lower the levels found in the 
>household.

A while back I read (in Science News, I believe) that radon is becoming
more of a problem as houses become more "air tight" to conserve energy.
It used to be that, even though building materials like brick would
outgas small quantities of radon, the air circulation in less energy-
efficient houses was enough to quickly disperse it.
-- 

					Scott Anderson
					ihnp4!oddjob!kaos!sra