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Understanding Radon: Characteristics, Dangers, and Detection

Learn about the characteristics of radon, its impact on human health, and how to detect its presence in the environment. Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is harmful to human health. It is a leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Understanding radon and its properties is crucial for the protection of our health.

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Understanding Radon: Characteristics, Dangers, and Detection

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  1. Lesson 1 What is radon?

  2. Liquid Gas Solid Colorless Grayish-green Greenish-blue Smells like ozone Has no smell Has no taste Tastes metallic Tastes like chicken Occurs in nature Made by humans Reacts readily chemically Does not readily react chemically (is inert) Has a static electrical charge Has no static electrical charge Radioactive Not radioactive Harmful to human health Harmless to human health Which characteristics apply to radon? See handout 1-1

  3. Liquid Gas Solid Colorless Grayish-green Greenish-blue Smells like ozone Has no smell Has no taste Tastes metallic Tastes like chicken Occurs in nature Made by humans Reacts readily chemically Does not readily react chemically (is inert) Has a static electrical charge Has no static electrical charge Radioactive Not radioactive Harmful to human health Harmless to human health Characteristics of radon

  4. Is there radon in this room? • Why would we care? • Radon is harmful to human health • Leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers • How would we know? • Radon may occur anywhere • Radon has no color, odor, or taste, so we cannot detect with our senses • We can tell only by measuring

  5. Background for understanding radioactivity Simple atom • Nucleus • Protons (+ or positive charge) • Neutrons (no charge) • Electrons (- or negative charge)

  6. Radon (Rn) atom

  7. Naturally occurring radon isotopes

  8. Isotopes • May be stable or unstable • Unstable isotopes (radioactive) decay spontaneously (change to another element) called • Decay products • Progeny • Daughters • During decay, unstable isotopes give off radiation • Radiation = energy emitted as invisible • Particles • Waves • Rays

  9. Radon decay series Radon-222 Polonium-218 Lead-214 Bismuth-214 Polonium-214 Lead-210

  10. Radon and its decay products

  11. Types of radiation released

  12. Radiation released in radon decay Radon-222  +  Polonium-218  +  Lead-214  +  Bismuth-214  +  Polonium-214  +  Lead-210

  13. Example: 1-day half-life in imaginary box of atoms

  14. Half-life of radon3.8 days In 3.8 days • Radon can move from soil, rock, and water into air in a home • People breathe in the radon • As radon decays • It releases radiation • It creates radon decay products, which may remain in lungs and release more radiation as they decay • Note: Radon gas is continually entering a home and decaying

  15. Half-lives of radon and its decay products Radon-222 3.8 days Polonium-218 3.1 minutes Lead-214 26.8 minutes Bismuth-214 19.7 minutes Polonium-214 160 microseconds Lead-210 22.6 years

  16. No color No smell No taste No electrical charge Gas Radioactive Naturally occurring Does not readily react chemically Harmful to human health Summary Radon is an element with these characteristics See handout 1-2

  17. Questions?

  18. Check your understanding • See handout 1-3

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