Introduction

Radon-222 and its progeny are a major health concern, contributing to possibly 20,000 deaths from lung cancer each year¹⁷. Although it has been established that radon is the primary source of the low to medium range radiation levels that the average American is exposed to, questions remain about whether these levels are actually harmful. Originating from the ground by the radioactive decay of uranium, radon enters the earth's atmosphere and continues to decay, in the process emitting cancer-causing alpha particles. When we inhale radon and radon daughters, the airborne particles settle on the epithelium of the respiratory tract and lead to tissue damage. Exactly how much damage a certain concentration of radon in the air may cause is unknown, but the multiplicative effects of smoking and indoor radon have been observed in numerous studies. This document may be used as a source of information about radon in general, provides an assessment of the danger posed by radon, and an examination of radon in Eastern Washington.