According to the World Health Organization, radon is one of the leading causes of lung cancer. Between 3% and 14% of all lung malignancies in the world are associated with its impact on humans. To protect the public, Ukraine regulates the permissible amount of this gas in residential and public buildings at the legislative level.
At the end of February 2024 the Editorial Board of the Uatom.org website discussed with residents of the capital health hazards from radon exposure, sources of this gas in buildings and necessary actions to reduce its activity. After the survey, the participants received materials with information on ways to protect themselves and their families from undesirable radon exposure.
aged 18, student
— Radon is a radioactive gas that is odorless and colorless.
— Of course. Radon is hazardous to human health. It enters the body through the lungs and causes the greatest damage to them.
— I think it can enter the premises from the foundations of buildings.
— Ventilate the rooms well and systematically.
aged 21, student
— Radon is a chemical element of the periodic table. At the same time, it is a dangerous radioactive gas.
— I think the hazard lies in the exposure of human lung tissue, which can lead to cancer in the future.
— Radon is contained in construction materials and municipal tap water.
— Regularly ventilate the house, seal the floor and cracks in the basement.
aged 23, engaged in IT
— Radon is poisonous radioactive gas.
— Of course, it is hazardous, as it causes dizziness, nausea, and suffocation. In a more pessimistic scenario, radon can lead to respiratory and lung cancer.
— Radon can be contained in soil under buildings, in construction materials, in water from artesian wells, and household gas.
— If you are unlucky and radon was detected in your home, my advice is to move! (Laughs). But seriously, the first thing to do is to ventilate the room. In the future, it would probably not be superfluous to install a ventilation system.
aged 22, engaged in IT
— Radon is a poisonous substance in the gaseous state.
— Yes, radon is hazardous. It enters the human body through the lungs and can lead to formation of malignant tumors. However, if I’m not mistaken, radon decay products affect not only the lungs. The gas affects immune, reproductive and hematopoietic cells.
— Sources of radon are primarily construction materials, such as granite or granite sands in concrete.
— Ventilate the house.
aged 19, student
— Radon is an inert radioactive gas.
— Yes, radon is considered hazardous because it is radiotoxic and carcinogenic.
— To be honest, I don’t know. However, I can guess that radon can be contained in the soil and enter a premise through the basement or floor.
— Most likely, premises should be ventilated.
aged 19, student
— Radon is a poisonous, odorless gaseous substance.
— Definitely. When radon enters the human body through the lungs, it affects the most sensitive parts of the respiratory tract. As a result, it can lead to cancer.
— I wouldn’t say for sure, but I think radon can get into buildings, including through gas pipes.
— Premises should be aerated regularly, and ventilation should be installed.
both 19 years old, students (Maria on the right, Sofia on the left)
— Maria: Radon is a poisonous gas of natural origin.
— Sofia: Radon is a gaseous substance that is easily inhaled, colorless, odorless and tasteless.
— Maria: Yes, radon is hazardous to human health. It can be accumulated indoors.
— Sofia: Yes, because it leads to cancer development.
— Maria: There are many ways radon can get into a building: cracks in the floor, walls, foundation; water from underground sources (wells).
— Sofia: The most common source seems to be construction materials.
— Maria: First identify it; special test kits for radon detection are sold in construction supermarkets.
— Sofia: Ventilate premises, do wet cleaning.
aged 26, works in sales
— Radioactive gas.
— Radon enters the human body through the lungs during breathing. This can lead to cancer, which in turn can lead to death.
— Radon is generated underground by the decay of rocks containing radioactive elements. It enters premises through cracks in the foundation, floor, and walls. If there is insufficient ventilation, it accumulates and can pose a threat to human health.
— Premises should be ventilated regularly.
aged 34, lawyer
— This is gas used in the energy sector.
— To be honest, I don’t know.
— I didn’t know that radon could accumulate in buildings.
— It’s hard to say.
aged 21, student
— Radioactive gas generated in the process of uranium decay.
— Obviously, it is. Once in the body, radon affects the human bronchopulmonary system.
— Radon enters buildings from the walls and foundations if the construction materials do not meet the requirements. It can also enter with tap water and natural gas.
— Primarily, it is necessary to have equipment to detect increased radon activity. One can find out where to get such equipment and how to take measurements on the Internet.
Uatom.org Editorial Board