While proponents of low dose radiation have declared January “Radon Health Benefits Awareness Month,” regulators have dubbed it “Radon Awareness/Action Month.” The Montana Department of Environmental Quality says breathing radon gas can damage lung tissue and is a leading cause of cancer among non-smokers. As part of its contribution for the month, the DEQ has released steps Montanans can take to test for and reduce gas found in homes. Some other health professionals say low doses of radiation can actually be beneficial. (See the Monitor article on the debate in the January 4 issue.)
Radon gas occurs naturally from the decay of uranium in rock and soils in Montana and can accumulate inside homes. The gas is radioactive and can damage lung tissue, and studies indicate breathing radon is a major cause of lung cancer, after cigarette smoking, and a leading cause of cancer among non-smokers, says the DEQ.
In Montana, the results of historic radon testing indicate radon gas is present in varying levels in homes throughout the state. Radon concentrations depend largely on the underlying geology of the area, home construction, and weather. Radon can build to unhealthy levels, especially during colder months when windows and doors are kept closed, say the health officials. The invisible, odorless gas can seep into homes from underground and can reach harmful levels if trapped indoors, says the DEQ.
