You left off a lot more than half a sentence from the page you linked to.
Radiation exposure from radon is indirect. Radon has a short half-life (4 days) and decays into other solid particulate radium-series radioactive nuclides. These radioactive particles are inhaled and remain lodged in the lungs, causing continued exposure. People in affected localities can receive up to 10 mSv per year background radiation.
Radon is thus the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, and accounts for 15,000 to 22,000 cancer deaths per year in the US alone. The general population is exposed to small amounts of polonium as a radon daughter in indoor air; the isotopes 214Po and 218Po are thought to cause the majority of the estimated 15,000-22,000 lung cancer deaths in the US every year that have been attributed to indoor radon.
The general effects of radon to the human body are caused by its radioactivity and consequent risk of radiation-induced cancer. As an inert gas, radon has a low solubility in body fluids which leads to a uniform distribution of the gas throughout the body. Radon gas and its solid decay products are carcinogens. The greatest health risks come from exposure to the inhaled solid radon gas decay products that are produced during the radioactive decay of radon gas. Two of these decay products, polonium-218 and 214, present a significant radiologic hazard. Once the radioactive decay products are inhaled into the lung, they undergo further radioactive decay, releasing small bursts of energy in the form of alpha particles that can either cause DNA breaks or create free radicals.
It is not known whether radon can cause health effects in other organs besides the lungs. The effects of radon, which is found in food or drinking water, are unknown.
Wikipedia subarticle on the effects of RadonNow radon causes lung cancer. Ok, got that down. But here is "THEY"s statement:
QUOTE ("THEY"+)
My dad died a very slow death, at a relatively young age, from
prostrate cancer.
Note that she specifically says prostrate cancer, not lung cancer. There's a difference. So while radon poses a serious threat to your health, there's nothing to prove that it causes prostrate cancer. Understand?
Capracus
31st May 2008 - 10:22 AM
QUOTE (TheDoc+May 31 2008, 02:59 AM)
Now radon causes lung cancer. Ok, got that down. But here is "THEY"s statement:
QUOTE
My dad died a very slow death, at a relatively young age, from prostrate cancer. He worked in the uranium mines when he was young. Is that something you would wish on your children or grand children? Research uranium mining, and see if that is something you really would wish upon humans to increase mining to meet the demand.
Note that she specifically says
prostrate cancer, not
lung cancer. There's a difference. So while radon poses a serious threat to your health, there's nothing to prove that it causes prostrate cancer. Understand?
Whether or not They's Dad's prostate cancer was a result of radon or uranium exposure remains uncertain. There is research that suggests a link between cancer and the radiogenic and chemical properties of natural and depleted uranium.
The main point of They's statement was that there was, and still is health risks associated with uranium mining. Your selective Wiki quote was misleading in regards to the known cancer risk associated with uranium mining. Quoting the full sentence demonstrates the true danger of the occupation.
Prostrate cancer is a cancer of individuals who lay face down.
Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate gland.
My Dad used to make the same mistake with prostate/prostrate.
TheDoc
1st June 2008 - 04:13 AM
QUOTE (Capracus+)
Whether or not They's Dad's prostate cancer was a result of radon or uranium exposure remains uncertain.
There is research that suggests a link between cancer and the radiogenic and chemical properties of natural and depleted uranium.Link?
QUOTE
The main point of They's statement was that there was, and still is health risks associated with uranium mining.
I was questioning whether "THEY"s dad's cancer was a result of uranium mining, not how dangerous uranium mining is.
QUOTE (->
| QUOTE |
| The main point of They's statement was that there was, and still is health risks associated with uranium mining. |
I was questioning whether "THEY"s dad's cancer was a result of uranium mining, not how dangerous uranium mining is.
Your selective Wiki quote was misleading in regards to the known cancer risk associated with uranium mining.
Your selective Wiki quote was misleading in regards to what type of cancer radon can cause.
QUOTE
Quoting the full sentence demonstrates the true danger of the occupation.
Again, I wasn't arguing that uranium mining wasn't dangerous. I was questioning "THEY"s statement.
Capracus
1st June 2008 - 10:18 AM
QUOTE (TheDoc+Jun 1 2008, 04:13 AM)
QUOTE (Capracus+)
Whether or not They's Dad's prostate cancer was a result of radon or uranium exposure remains uncertain. There is research that suggests a link between cancer and the radiogenic and chemical properties of natural and depleted uranium.
Link?
http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2006/04/21/68146
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender...15&blobtype=pdfhttp://www.nirs.org/les/lesdureportredactedfeb2005.pdfQUOTE
Your selective Wiki quote was misleading in regards to what type of cancer radon can cause.
It definitely causes lung cancer, and it may possibly cause others. How many different types of cancer are necessary to pose a health risk?
QUOTE (->
| QUOTE |
| Your selective Wiki quote was misleading in regards to what type of cancer radon can cause. |
It definitely causes lung cancer, and it may possibly cause others. How many different types of cancer are necessary to pose a health risk?
Again, I wasn't arguing that uranium mining wasn't dangerous. I was questioning "THEY"s statement.
That was part of They's statement, IMO it was the most significant part of the statement.
TheDoc
1st June 2008 - 10:09 PM
QUOTE (Capracus+)
It definitely causes lung cancer, and it may possibly cause others. How many different types of cancer are necessary to pose a health risk?
You're taking my statement out of context. I never said that so-and-so number of cancers are needed to pose a health risk.
QUOTE
That was part of They's statement, IMO it was the most significant part of the statement.
You're taking what I said out of context again. I was refering to "THEY"s statement that her dad's prostate cancer came from uranium mining. Remember?
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