Measuring Radon in Residential Properties What is radon? Lesson 1 What is radon? Connecticut Radon Measurement Training Program 2006

Which characteristics apply to radon? Measuring Radon in Residential Properties What is radon? Which characteristics apply to radon? Liquid Gas Solid Colorless Grayish-green Greenish-blue Smells like ozone Has no smell Has no taste Tastes metallic Tastes like chicken Occurs in nature Made by humans Reacts readily chemically Does not readily react chemically (is inert) Has a static electrical charge Has no static electrical charge Radioactive Not radioactive Harmful to human health Harmless to human health See handout 1-1 Connecticut Radon Measurement Training Program 2006

Characteristics of radon Measuring Radon in Residential Properties What is radon? Characteristics of radon Liquid Gas Solid Colorless Grayish-green Greenish-blue Smells like ozone Has no smell Has no taste Tastes metallic Tastes like chicken Occurs in nature Made by humans Reacts readily chemically Does not readily react chemically (is inert) Has a static electrical charge Has no static electrical charge Radioactive Not radioactive Harmful to human health Harmless to human health Connecticut Radon Measurement Training Program 2006

Is there radon in this room? Why would we care? Radon is harmful to human health Leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers How would we know? Radon may occur anywhere Radon has no color, odor, or taste, so we cannot detect with our senses We can tell only by measuring

Background for understanding radioactivity Simple atom Nucleus Protons (+ or positive charge) Neutrons (no charge) Electrons (- or negative charge)

Radon (Rn) atom Radon is an element: a basic unit of matter Atomic number = Number of protons 86 Atomic mass or mass number = Number of protons + number of neutrons Varies

Naturally occurring radon isotopes Measuring Radon in Residential Properties What is radon? Naturally occurring radon isotopes Isotopes: different forms of an element with different atomic masses Number of protons Number of neutrons Atomic mass Radon-219 86 133 219 Radon-220 134 220 Radon-222 136 222 Connecticut Radon Measurement Training Program 2006

Measuring Radon in Residential Properties What is radon? Isotopes May be stable or unstable Unstable isotopes (radioactive) decay spontaneously (change to another element) called Decay products Progeny Daughters During decay, unstable isotopes give off radiation Radiation = energy emitted as invisible Particles Waves Rays Connecticut Radon Measurement Training Program 2006

Measuring Radon in Residential Properties What is radon? Radon decay series Radon-222 Polonium-218 Lead-214 Bismuth-214 Source: Graphic image: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/glossary/radioactivity.html Polonium-214 Lead-210 Connecticut Radon Measurement Training Program 2006

Radon and its decay products Gas Solid Chemically inactive Chemically active No static electrical charge Electrically charged Primary source of cell damage leading to lung cancer

Types of radiation released Measuring Radon in Residential Properties What is radon? Types of radiation released Alpha () Beta () Gamma () Relatively large mass Relatively small mass No mass = 2 protons and 2 neutrons = 1 electron = pure energy (electromagnetic radiation) Electrical charge of +2 Electrical charge of -1 No electrical charge Moves slowly Moves quickly Moves at the speed of light Least penetrating Moderately penetrating Most penetrating Most damaging to human health Note to trainer: If learners are unfamiliar with the Greek symbols used for the types of radiation, please them point out, as these symbols will be used elsewhere in this training. Connecticut Radon Measurement Training Program 2006

Radiation released in radon decay Polonium-218  +  Lead-214  +  Bismuth-214  +  Polonium-214  +  Lead-210

Example: 1-day half-life in imaginary box of atoms

Half-life of radon 3.8 days In 3.8 days Radon can move from soil, rock, and water into air in a home People breathe in the radon As radon decays It releases radiation It creates radon decay products, which may remain in lungs and release more radiation as they decay Note: Radon gas is continually entering a home and decaying

Half-lives of radon and its decay products Radon-222 3.8 days Polonium-218 3.1 minutes Lead-214 26.8 minutes Bismuth-214 19.7 minutes Polonium-214 160 microseconds Lead-210 22.6 years

Summary Radon is an element with these characteristics No color Gas No smell No taste No electrical charge Gas Radioactive Naturally occurring Does not readily react chemically Harmful to human health See handout 1-2

Questions?

Check your understanding See handout 1-3