What is Radon?
A. Radon is a radioactive gas formed by the natural radioactive decay of uranium in soil, rock and water. It is colorless, tasteless and chemically inert, and found in all 50 of the United States. Once produced, it seeps up through the ground to the air above–while some remains below the surface dissolving in underground flowing water. Radon gas decays into radioactive particles that can become trapped within your lungs when you breathe. As the particles break down further, they release small bursts of energy and this can damage lung tissue and lead to lung cancer. Not everyone exposed to elevated levels of radon will develop lung cancer. The amount of time between exposure and the onset of the disease may be many years. Breathing radon does not cause any short-term health effects such as shortness of breath, coughing, headaches or fever. Research suggests that swallowing water with high radon levels may pose risks too, although risks are much lower than those from breathing air conta
