| 112th Year, 47th Issue | Thursday, July 5, 2001 | Sparta, North Carolina |
Editor's Note: This article is the second in a two-part series about radon testing and control. This article was submitted by Susan Pope, N.C. Cooperative Extension's radon expert.
The American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (AARST) is a voluntary professional association which serves those individuals engaged in the research, testing, measurement and remediation of radon. The following is an article that can be found on their website (www.aarst.org) and is re-printed with their permission. Information exclusive to North Carolina follows.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which comes from radium
found in the ground everywhere. This gas collects in buildings and forms
radon decay products which mostly attach to dust particles in the air.
Inhalation of these radon decay products results in deposition of
radiation energy (alpha particles) in surface tissues of the lung. This
is the largest source of radiation dose to an average person and radon
is a known cause of lung cancer in humans. In keeping with normal
radiation safety practices for minimizing all sources of radiation dose,
AARST recommends testing of buildings and taking action to reduce radon
levels below 4pCi/L.
Get the rest of this article in this week's issue of the Alleghany News!
Email: news@alleghanynews.com