Text taken from
the Swedish Radiation Protection Authority
Radon and radon
daughters enter our bronchial tubes and lungs when we breathe.
In addition to decomposition, it is alfa radiation that emits
radon daughters which are damaging and can cause lung cancer.
Even other organs in the body receive a dose of that
radiation, but the risk of damage is little. From the point at
which someone is exposed to radon until the time when lung
cancer develops is be proven to take 15-40 years. Lung cancer
has a very poor diagnosis. It manifests itself late and then
when the diagnosis is made, the patient most often doesn't
have much longer to live. A Swedish survey on cancer which
was presented in 1995 showed that nearly 70% of patients pass
away within one year and 90% within five years. Thus, there is
every reason to attempt to prevent lung cancer in as large an
extent as is possible.
Gamma radiation is an electro-magnetic radiation which is
emitted when certain radioactive substances decompose. It is
the same type as X-Ray radiation. Gamma radiation has a long
range and can reach hundreds of meters in the air or app. half
a meter into stone or concrete. Alfa radiation consists of
particles - alfa particles – that are emitted when certain
radioactive substances decompose. Alfa radiation has a very
short range. It hardly pushes through skin. Thus, the
radiation can cause damages only if the radioactive substances
enter into the body. Radium is found everywhere in nature,
more or less concentrated. Radon located in houses can come
from the land, building material or household water.
Household water.
It is unusual to have a high percentage of radon in municipal
household water. The source of surface water contains almost
no radon whatsoever. But deeply bored wells can provide water
which has a high percentage of radon. This is especially the
case in areas where a mountain base's percentage of uranium is
higher than normal. It strikes primarily those who have their
own wells. When water containing radon is used in the
household, radon is emitted to the interior household air. A
rough rule of thumb is that if the percentage of radon in the
water is 1'000 Bq/l, it ends up being the source of interior
air contamination for up to a radon percentage of app. 100 Bq/m³.
It isn't good to be drinking water that has a high percentage
of radon. The National Food Administration introduced the
following value limits for radon in the drinking water
notification on October 1st, 1997:
|
Municipal and Private Water |
more than 100 Bq/l |
(unsuitable with comment) |
|
more than 1,000 Bq/l |
(unsuitable) |
|
