Is your home secretly making you sick? Let's talk about Radon

We all think that our home is the safest place in the world, right? The comfort and safety we feel when we come home after a hard day's work... that's so precious. But did you know that there's something inside our homes that we can't see or smell, but that can secretly harm our health? Today we're going to talk about one such silent enemy. That's a gas called Radon. Don't worry, if we're aware of this, there are ways to protect ourselves from it.

Simply put, what is Radon?

Think about it, radon is a naturally occurring gas. To be precise, radon gas is formed as a byproduct of the process of radioactive elements like uranium, which are naturally present in our earth, soil, and rocks, gradually decaying over time.

So if this is a natural thing, why should we be afraid of it? Here's the problem. Outdoors, this gas is dispersed into the air, so it doesn't cause any harm. However, if this gas gets inside our homes, it can get stuck in one place with no way to get out.

So how does this get into homes?

• From the tiny cracks in the foundations of our homes.
• From the scratches on the walls.
• Through gaps made to allow things like water pipes and wires to enter the house.

The most dangerous thing about this gas is that it has no color, smell, or taste. This means that even if your home has high levels of radon gas, you won't feel it at all. You won't even know you're breathing the gas.

How does Radon affect our health?

We say that radon is a radioactive gas. Simply put, this gas emits a very powerful, invisible energy ray. When we breathe in radon gas, the radioactive particles in this gas are deposited in our lungs.

Over time, these particles continue to emit radiation and begin to damage the delicate cells in the lungs. This damage can affect the DNA of those cells and cause them to divide abnormally and uncontrollably. This is what we call lung cancer .

Although some studies have looked at other types of cancer, the strongest evidence currently exists regarding the link between radon and lung cancer.

What are the symptoms of exposure to Radon?

This is where the danger lies. There are no immediate signs of exposure to radon. You don't cough, you don't feel any pain, you don't feel anything different. This is something that silently damages the body.

Health problems caused by radon, especially lung cancer, can take years, even decades (10, 20, or even 30 years) to develop. So by the time you start experiencing symptoms, the disease may already be well advanced.

So remember, the only way to know if you are exposed to radon is not to wait for symptoms to appear, but to check the building you are in (home, workplace).

These are the symptoms that may appear if lung cancer develops over time:

• A persistent cough.
• Wheezing.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Coughing up blood with mucus.
• Chest pain.
• Frequent respiratory infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis.
• Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite.

Who is most at risk and where?

While we can all be exposed to radon to some degree, in some cases the risk is much higher. Let's take a look at what those are.

How do you know if you are exposed to Radon?

This is also a very important question. As mentioned before, there is no test that your doctor can do to examine you, do a blood test, or take an X-ray and say, "You have been exposed to radon."

The only way to know the radon level is to test the building where you spend the most time, that is, your home.

There are special test kits for this. These can be short-term (a few days) or long-term (a few months) tests. Typically, the device in this kit needs to be left in a designated place at home for a designated period of time, and then sent to a laboratory for analysis.

To find out what these testing facilities are like in Sri Lanka, it is best to inquire with institutions like the Atomic Energy Authority.

If so, talk to your family doctor about this. Especially if you are a smoker, talk to your doctor about this risk and get advice about lung cancer screening if necessary.

What can we do to reduce this risk?

The good news is that even if you know your home has high radon levels, there are very effective ways to reduce them. We call these methods "Radon Mitigation." It is best to seek the help of an experienced professional for this.

After installing this prevention system, it is imperative to re-test the radon level to ensure that it has returned to a safe level.

Things we can do alone

• Increase ventilation: Always keep windows and doors open in your home. Use a fan. Although this is a temporary solution, it will reduce the accumulation of radon in one place.
• Quit smoking: This is the best thing you can do. Not only will it reduce your risk of radon, it will also help you avoid a host of other diseases. Talk to your doctor if you need help.
• Do not allow smoking inside the house: Even if you do not smoke, do not allow visitors to smoke inside the house or in the garage.
• Seal cracks: If there are visible cracks in the floor or walls, seal them with cement or a suitable sealant.

When should I see a doctor?

If you have any concerns or questions about your lung cancer risk, talk to your family doctor at any time. Especially,

• If you find out that your home has high radon levels.
• If you are a smoker or a former smoker.
• If you have one or more of the symptoms of lung cancer mentioned earlier.

The doctor will consider all of your risk factors and provide you with the necessary advice and guidance on what tests to perform, if necessary.