Radon poisoning is highly likely in areas with high amounts of radon. Radon was first discovered in the year 1900 by a German physicist. However, it was not until the 1950s that it was discovered how detrimental radon was to human health when miners of uranium begin developing lung cancer if there were high concentrations of radon present. Since this time, studies have been conducted that show the effect that radon has on the body and there has been a great need to eliminate the effects of radon poisoning.
Radon naturally occurs in the Earth’s atmosphere and has been shown to be a leading cause of lung cancer. There are many reasons that radon can accumulate in buildings and there are simple tests that can be completed to determine the level of radon that is found in your home.
Symptoms of radon poisoning
However, knowing the symptoms of radon poisoning can be important when you’re looking to protect both yourself and your family. When there is a lack of ventilation and large amounts of radon gas are able to build up in your home or a confined space such as a mine, radon poisoning can occur.
When you have developed radon poisoning, you will begin noticing symptoms similar to what you can expect when you have lung cancer. For example, you may develop a persistent cough that doesn’t ever seem to get better or you may find that you are coughing up blood.
Many people experience difficulties when they are trying to breathe and may find that they wheeze when they are breathing. Another sign of radon poisoning may be chest pain or hoarseness that is accompanied by multiple respiratory infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.
Often, radon poisoning can develop into lung cancer and it is extremely important that you seek medical attention if you begin seeing any of these warning signs. For many years, scientists understood that radon exposure had the ability of causing lung cancer. However, it wasn’t until 1984 that it was discovered that radon levels could be high within a home. It was at this time that a worker at a nuclear power plant actually set off the radiation alarm due to the fact that the radon level in his basement was extremely high. Since then, proper prevention of radon poisoning has been a priority in homes around the nation.
Radon built up
Whether your home is old or new, it is important to be aware of whether it has high levels of radon built up inside. There are a number of reasons that radon can build up in a home and it can be released from the soil beneath the home or from well water that is sent into the home.
Radon testing
It is suggested for all homeowners to test regularly for the radon level in their homes so that they can have issues addressed that are causing radon levels to be increased in home. These tests are inexpensive and easy to use, but if you are uncomfortable with the process, you can easily call a professional to have your levels tested as well.