A Utah man’s wife was one of the most recent victims of a naturally occurring radioactive gas. It comes from decaying uranium deposits in the ground and is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
Now, he is pleading with people to get their homes tested for radon so that nobody in their family meets the same unfortunate fate. His wife had never lit up a cigarette in her life and was in tip-top physical condition, but she fell victim to an invisible killer inside their house.
“This is such an easy thing to test for – you have virtually nothing to lose and potentially everything to gain by being informed,” Utah’s Todd Smith said Monday.
An activated charcoal test or charcoal canister is the most common means of testing for radon in a home. These have to be sent to a lab where results can be provided within a few days.
However, experts recommend that long-term monitors, alpha track detectors and other sensors be placed inside the house for extended-duration measurements.
#Radon is a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. But how do you protect yourself from a gas you cannot see, taste, or smell? The only way to know if your home has radon is by testing. A radon test is easy and can save your life https://t.co/yqH6sbxHyq #RadonActionMonth pic.twitter.com/UBLJmaQVhP
— Huntsman Cancer Institute (@huntsmancancer) January 17, 2024
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Research finds link between radon and child cancer
A study published this month in the journal Science of the Total Environment found that there was a definitive link between exposure to radon gas and childhood leukemia.
The researchers, based out of Oregon State University (OSU), determined that there is an elevated risk of youth contracting the disease even when the amount present in the home is lower than the limit set out by the Environmental Protection Agency.
They analyzed data from 18 years throughout 14 different states. There are currently about 4.8 cases of lung cancer per 100,000 kids in the U.S.
“This is the largest study of its kind in the U.S., but more robust research is necessary to confirm these findings on an individual level and inform decision-making about health risks from radon in this country and globally,” Matthew Bozigar, an assistant professor at the OSU College of Health, said.
Radon was discovered in the year 1900 by the German chemist Friedrich Ernst Dorn. It was one of the first-ever recognized indoor air pollutants. The World Health Organization launched a large-scale project in 2009 to combat its harmful impact.
Health Canada has estimated that 16 per cent of lung cancer deaths north of the U.S. are attributable to radon gas exposure.
Aside from testing the home, getting screened for lung cancer regularly is a smart move too. American companies excelling with convenient testing methods for the disease include Cizzle Biotech, Breath Diagnostics Inc. and bioAffinity Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: BIAF).
rowan@mugglehead.com
