Also, consider more frequent replacements if you have a family member with asthma, allergies or other lung diseases. Radon is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that is produced by naturally decaying uranium and radium. Uranium and radium is naturally found in soil and rock through out the world. It is typically concentrated in areas with lots of granite, shale, phosphate, and pitchblende. Exposure to radon gas increases your risk of developing lung cancer.
Alpha particles release a small burst of energy, which are absorbed by nearby lung tissue.
This results in lung cell damage or death. There are no immediate symptoms in relation to radon exposure. Your risk of developing lung cancer from radon depends on the concentration of radon in the air you breath and the length of time you are exposed. The EPA estimates that 15,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States are due to radon exposure, which makes it the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States following smoking. While radon is common outdoors, it is diluted to very low levels and is not a concern.