Radon is colorless, odorless gas that is present in many homes across North America and all over the world. The results of prolonged exposure to radon can be severe as it is the leading cause of lung cancer behind cigarette smoking. Of particular vulnerability are infants and small children who spend a lot of time near the floor where radon, since it is a heavy particle, tends to accumulate. There are several ways to test for radon yourself, or you can hire a professional in your area. Indeed, the United States Surgeon General and the Environmental Protection Agency recommend all new homes be tested for radon. Before you bother outlaying the funds for a test however, you should keep in mind that radon is more common in some parts of the country and the world than others.
Radon is present in soils all over the world. Much of it is benign, as it is not found in large enough proportions to be of any harm or else it is trapped underground and has no means to escape to the outside air. This is the reason why basement foundations can often release radon when they are constructed. While windy regions will usually have less of a radon problem as the gas cannot accumulate as easily, this does not hold for basements even in severely windy places such as Illinois.
Some of the largest sources of radon are the springs in Boulder, Montana and Misasa, Japan. Fortunately for most of us, we do not live anywhere near there and do not have to worry about it. However, radon is frequently found wherever there are significant deposits of granite or shale. It is not a direct correlation, but often the granite in the Canadian Shield releases large amounts of radon gas as the earth is still expanding since the last Ice Age. This is why some of the highest average radon readings come from places like Iowa, southeast Pennsylvania and all around the Appalachian Mountain Range. In fact, Iowa City has special by-laws to regulate radon resistant construction for all new homes.
Three Mile Island exhibits some of the highest concentrations of radon in the United States, as one might expect given the catastrophe that occurred there. Other man-made radon sources include petroleum refineries. The residues from oil and gas production will often contain radon in the refuse ponds and airborne effluents.
Some places outside the United States like Misasa, Japan, Mallow, Ireland, and several shires in southern England, have very high levels of radon gas. Unlike the U.S. locales where there tends to be large deposits of granite and shale, these radon hot-spots are more mysterious as there is little or no obvious geological or man-made cause for the radon build-up.
Latest Videos of Regions With Radon:
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