We will quit if uranium mine opens, say doctors Nov 23, 2009
They are thinking about the health hazards potentially in contaminated water and radon dust,'' said Koen De Decker, a spokesman for the doctors at the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress. The doctors wrote to the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and other relevant ministers, because he had promoted closing the gap between the health of indigenous and other Australians, Dr De Decker said. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Dr. Jeff Hersh: Be aware of lung cancer risks Nov 18, 2009
Other risk factors for lung cancer include secondhand smoke (there is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke), radon gas in the home, medical exposure to X-rays, chronic lung disease, advanced age, and other carcinogens (including asbestos, ionizing radiation and others). The symptoms of lung cancer are non-specific and include shortness of breath, cough (especially if the patient coughs up blood), wheezing, chest pain and repeated lung infections (pneumonia or bronchitis). (Belmont Citizen Herald, MA)
Is Marcellus Shale too hot to handle? Nov 9, 2009
Radium, a potent carcinogen, is among the most dangerous of these metals because it gives off radon gas and takes 1,600 years to decay. The tests taken so far suggest the amount of radioactive material measured in New York is far higher than in many other places. (Albany Times Union)
Warmer Homes Mean Better Health For Poor People, Study Suggests Nov 9, 2009
Jacobs said that the review was limited, in that it did not discuss the many studies showing positive outcomes of housing interventions such as lead and radon reduction or elimination of asthma-associated allergens. Journal reference. (Science Daily)
Hidden Costs Of Energy Production And Use Oct 28, 2009
But the life cycle of nuclear power does pose some risks; if uranium mining activities contaminate ground or surface water, for example, people could potentially be exposed to radon or other radionuclides; this risk is borne mostly by other nations, the report says, because the U.S. mines only 5 percent of the world's uranium. The potential risks from a proposed long-term facility for storing high-level radioactive waste need further evaluation before they can be quantified. (Science Daily)
Why Missile Defense Doesn't Work Oct 24, 2009
What Missile Defense. What Missile Defense. (Slate)
EF merits due diligence Oct 1, 2009
Radon seemed to be covered pretty well at Whirlwind. Advertisement. (Montrose Daily Press, CO)
Radon: Second Leading Cause Of Lung Cancer, European Study Confirms Oct 1, 2009
30, 2009) Exposure to radon gas in homes is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, according to a study carried out by researchers from the University of Cantabria and the Babes-Bolyai University in Romania ... Numerous studies worldwide have shown that radon, a natural radioactive gas that seeps into homes in some regions, is the second leading factor (after smoking) in causing people to develop lung cancer ... The authors estimated the death rate due to lung cancer attributable... (Science Daily)
EPA tells schools to test aging caulk for PCBs Sep 30, 2009
A decade-old Education Department report said the average building was 40 years old, and the Rebuild America's Schools coalition says that two-thirds of schools have an environmental problem such as the presence of cancer-causing asbestos or radon gas, lead in water and paint, leaking underground storage tanks or cancer-causing radon gas. Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. (MSNBC -- Health)
Health: WHO cuts radon limits due to risks Sep 23, 2009
WHO cuts radon limits due to cancer risks - Cancer- msnbc ... WHO cuts radon limits due to lung cancer risks ... GENEVA - The World Health Organization on Tuesday drastically reduced the amount of radon from natural sources that countries should allow to accumulate in buildings, given the fatal lung cancer it can cause. (MSNBC -- Environment)
WHO: Nations should set tighter radon controls Sep 23, 2009
GENEVA The World Health Organization on Tuesday drastically reduced the amount of radon from natural sources that countries should allow to accumulate in buildings, given the fatal lung cancer it can cause. Radon is a naturally occurring gas found in mines, caves and water treatment plants ... But radon contained in rocks and soil also can enter homes and other buildings through cracks in concrete, floor gaps, small holes in walls and drains. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
Guide on lung cancer in 'never-smokers': A different disease and different treatments Sep 17, 2009
Exposure to second-hand smoke and radon gas are thought to play important roles in causing the disease in never-smokers. Radon, which leaks into homes from naturally occurring uranium in soil, is known to be the leading cause of these cancers in U.S. populations, but about half of never-smokers with lung cancer cannot be explained by known risk factors identified in the guide, which also include asbestos, indoor wood-burning stoves, and aerosolized oils caused by cooking ... "Besides second-hand... (EurekAlert!)
Post investigates: Sep 14, 2009
"Radon. Radiation. Pesticides. That's what we'll look at first," Alonso said. The water has the rural residents especially concerned, after one well at the Seminole Improvement District water treatment plant showed more than double the drinking water standard for radium-226, a naturally occurring, radioactive metal, and slightly elevated levels of alpha particles, another measure of radiation, including radon. (The Palm Beach Post)
Uravan lawsuit: Health hazards from the past versus today Sep 13, 2009
The Energy Fuels Whirlwind Mine currently meets U.S. Colorado, and Utah occupational and health standards for radon gas control (so called alpha radiation) and did so at the time of my visit ... Current uranium mill radon and ionizing exposures should be substantially lower although it is not realistic to presume that a new Pinon Ridge Mill or a possibly reconstructed Canon City Mill will have no occupational risk from radioactivity ... Here is the conclusion of the Energy Fuels August 28... (Montrose Daily Press, CO)
Staking a bet: Invest money into EF mill Sep 13, 2009
Energy Fuels says, in a recent report on radiation pathways sent to CDPHE, that ;main (mill) exposure (from particulate and radon gas sources) ... from inhalation of yellowcake dust, ore dust, and radon. (Montrose Daily Press, CO)
Hispanics Face Higher Cancer Risk from Breathing Household Chemicals Sep 12, 2009
The risk numbers we re talking about for that group are comparable to or greater than what we see for radon, which has been identified as the most dangerous hazard in homes in the country by far, said , a professor specializing in indoor air pollution at the University of Texas at Austin. He was one of the authors of the study, which was published online in the journal last month. (Scientific American)
Cancer fears must wait Sep 1, 2009
Radon and pesticides could also contribute to the development of brain tumors in children, Alonso said. White children and males are at greatest risk for pediatric brain cancers, according to the study, which found brain cancer rates in girls were higher than expected for the time period. (The Palm Beach Post)
Shallow wells risking quality in The Acreage Aug 30, 2009
The analysis showed excessive levels of radioactive radon, fecal coliform, aluminum, oil and grease and total dissolved solids. Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, behind cigarette smoking. (The Palm Beach Post)
Keeping tabs on Fairfield's public health Aug 28, 2009
To become a registered sanitarian, one not only has to work for a number of years in the field, but also have a lead inspector certification, food service certification, sewage certification, radon certification, pesticide application license, various preparedness courses, epidemiological training, environmental courses, water sampling - to name a few. Cleary began his career by doing an internship with the New Haven Health Department investigating lead poisonings for hundreds of children and... (Fairfield Minuteman, CT)
Two-thirds get medical tests with radiation Aug 27, 2009
Nearly 70 percent had at least one medical test between 2005 and 2007 that exposed them to radiation doses double than what would be expected from natural sources in the environment such as radon in soil and cosmic energy from the sun, the researchers said. The annual average radiation exposure was small less than 3 millisieverts, a measure of dose. (MSNBC -- Health)
Official urges Radon testing Aug 23, 2009
Yet radon can be a serious threat when it comes to dangerous levels of exposure. Radon is a radioactive gas that is found naturally in the soil and is present in all locations, including all 44 counties in Idaho ... Jim Faust, indoor environment program manager for the Bureau of Community and Environmental Health with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, was in Payette County last week to urge people to have their homes tested for radon. (Ontario Argus Observer, OR)
Testing at Weymouth Neck called faulty Aug 19, 2009
A former resident is challenging the accuracy of testing for radon and radionuclide at a former fertilizer plant on Weymouth Neck by a private firm last year ... Radon is an odorless gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water ... We have not found anything (radon, radioactive materials) that is above what we expect from natural background sources such as the soil and rocks which give off low levels of radioactive materials, Johnson said on Aug. 12. (Weymouth News, MA)
Sun, melanoma link not clear Aug 12, 2009
Just Curious wrote on Aug 11, 2009 12:10 PM:" Wow, this is as bad as a basement dwelling day care provider who once got mad at me when I suggested she do a radon test and the results came back much higher than action levels.Needless to say my kids don't go there. ". Living is toxic and cancerous please die soon wrote on Aug 11, 2009 11:49 AM:" There are groups that invest in and expend great efforts to create new, common, everyday items to foist on the public for their profit. Pushing the... (Bismarck Tribune, ND)
Assessing the Risks of Tanning Beds Aug 2, 2009
Last week, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer division of the World Health Organization, classified tanning beds as "carcinogenic to humans" the agency's highest cancer risk category, which also includes radon gas, plutonium and radium. Since 1992, the beds had been deemed "probably carcinogenic to humans." But in the last 17 years, "many more studies have been published, in many countries and in many populations, concluding that exposure to sun beds causes... (Time.com)
Tanning devices listed as carcinogenic Jul 30, 2009
In the review all types of ionising radiation were classified as carcinogenic to humans, including radon gas, which seeps from soil and rocks, plutonium, radium, phosphorous-32 and radioiodines. Join the conversation. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
PAPER: Tough love for fat people: Tax their food to pay for healthcare... Jul 29, 2009
Oddities, musings and some news from the world of health. 2:33 PM, July 27, 2009. (The Drudge Report)
Ventilate! It’s good for you! Jul 28, 2009
Intake vents should be carefully placed so they don t take in radon or molds from a crawl space, or fumes from a garage. Systems that use fans (active systems) must be balanced so the inside air pressure remains even or slightly positive so you can breathe easily. (Helena Independent Record, MT)
Lung cancer risk from radon in homes found Jul 22, 2009
VIENNA - New studies have found direct evidence of a lung cancer risk from the presence of colorless, odorless radon gas in many homes, a United Nations committee said in a report released Tuesday. Officials on the U.N. Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) said the finding provided the first quantifiable evidence of the risk in homes from radon, long seen as a potential health risk ... The World Health Organization (WHO) and other agencies were revising... (MSNBC -- Health)
Dems push smoking bans in bars, restaurants (1) Jul 11, 2009
Granny is right wrote on Feb 6, 2007 1:06 PM:" From the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Common Indoor Air Pollutants Question: I have to write a report on pollution. Can you give me a list of common indoor air pollutants? Answer: A list of common indoor air pollutants would include the following: Combustion contaminants (carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, environmental tobacco smoke); Biological pollutants (animal dander, molds, dust mites,... (Waterloo Courier, IO)
States digging deep to monitor water Jul 6, 2009
Bedrock water also contains uranium and radon, even unsafe levels of fluoride. Another major concern is just how long it takes for rainfall or melting snow to flow down to, or recharge, the aquifer. (Fresno Bee -- Nation)
Cops: Man breaks into home, watches TV, drives car Jun 30, 2009
"The Healthy Homes program is a national initiative that focuses on identifying housing related hazards for children such as mold, radon, and lead," said Secretary Everette James. "Through the Healthy Homes program, we will be able to assess foster homes in those two cities for environmental dangers and offer education, and in some cases intervention, to correct the hazard. This program will help insure that for these children home is a safe place to grow up.". (Fresno Bee)
Some Clark County Homes Show High Radon Levels Jun 30, 2009
Testing of homes in Clark County showed that 8 percent of homes have high radon levels. Radon, which is radioactive, is found in soil, rocks and water and is usually found in the soil beneath a home ... The radon can enter the house through foundation cracks, plumbing and porous building materials. (KLAS-TV)
Full Story » Jun 16, 2009
Home Inspections, radon testing, Energy Audits, EIFS Inspections. Browse a huge selection now. (Yahoo News -- Politics)
Health Tip: Home Safe Home Jun 4, 2009
Install carbon monoxide and radon detectors if applicable to your home. HealthDay. (MEDLINEplus)
Will the Antichrist be a homosexual? Jun 2, 2009
Radon wrote on Jun 1, 2009 12:32 PM:" Really? The Frontiersman has nothing else to print besides hate speech wrapped up in some kind of nonsensical, paranoid, homophobic rant? How embarrassing.I guess gay is the new black.I'll write you an opinion piece about the future of gay civil rights for free, to prevent more of this nonsense from ever taking up print space in your paper again. ". Jen wrote on Jun 1, 2009 12:24 PM:" As a Christian, I'm horribly embarrassed by this article. It's no wonder... (Wasilla Frontiersman, AK)
Families Urged to Have Wells Tested Yearly Jun 2, 2009
And it encourages well owners to talk with local health experts about what else their water should be tested for, based on known issues in the community, such as radon or agricultural runoff. "This statement will be extremely useful to many audiences, especially pediatricians," Linda Birnbaum, the institute's director, said in the news release. (MEDLINEplus)
Well water should be tested annually to reduce health risks to children May 26, 2009
For example, some parts of the country may have arsenic, radon, salt intrusion or agricultural runoff that may get into the water supply. "As people move out of urban and suburban areas into areas that are not reached by municipal water supplies, it is more important than ever that people know who to contact in their local health department to get information about local groundwater conditions," said N. Beth Ragan of NIEHS, who served as consultant on these reports. (EurekAlert!)
Mill termed perpetual radioactive hazardous waste facility May 17, 2009
Stills quoted from an EPA document categorizing radioactive hazards from uranium milling (beneficiation) that said, Waste constituents of concern include (radioactive) radionuclides (radium, radon, thorium, and to a lesser extent lead), arsenic, copper, selenium, vanadium, molybdenum, other heavy metals, and dissolved solids. Brines, spent ion exchange resins, and chemicals used in beneficiation operations are also constituents of wastes generated during beneficiation. (Montrose Daily Press, CO)
Fixit: Don't let dog's lips touch these poison foods Apr 30, 2009
Cracks in basement floors can allow radon to enter. Contact your county or state health department for information on radon testing and treatment. (Herald Online, SC -- Lifestyles)
Radon Mitigation and Remediation Systems Recommended in Denver, Littleton, Broomfield Colorado Homes Apr 18, 2009
Air Quality Control Agency is recommending radon gas testing, remediation, and radon removal systems for homes in the Greater Denver area. Some of the Colorado towns affected by radon gas are Denver, Littleton, Boulder, Broomfield, Aurora, Longmont, Fort Collins, Parker, Arvada, Englewood, Loveland, and Castle Rock ... For homes with radon levels of 4. (Yahoo News -- Press Releases)
Fears lead parents to eco-proof their nurseries Apr 9, 2009
Parents instead should educate themselves on the toxins already present in their homes, things like lead paint or radon. Jenn Savedge, author of The Green Parent: A Kid-Friendly Guide to Environmentally-Friendly Living, encourages families to pick and choose ideas that meet their individual needs. (Carlisle Sentinel, PA)
Italy muzzled scientist who warned of quake Apr 7, 2009
Giuliani, who based his forecast on concentrations of radon gas around seismically active areas, was reported to police for "spreading alarm" and was forced to remove his findings from the Internet ... He said that using radon gas detection to detect earthquakes had been studied extensively in the 1970s and '80s, but was found to be an inaccurate method for predicting quakes ... "Yes, some earthquakes are preceded by some kind of radon gas anomaly; others aren't," Stein said. (Boston Globe)
• Wonder what's in your well? Apr 6, 2009
The specific contaminants varied by region and type of rock, but included nitrate, radon and arsenic - the last one specifically noted as existing in Idaho's basalt-rock aquifers. The agency estimated that about 43 million people, 15 percent of the population, rely on drinking water from private wells. (Burley South Idaho Press, ID)
Uranium site to be cleansed Mar 27, 2009
The Department of Environment and Climate Change will finalise the remediation plan next week, and staff are taking soil samples and testing for radon gas. There have been many instances of government officials failing to warn residents about the risks of the site. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Donovan Olson Legislative Update Mar 24, 2009
IPERC may also establish quality standards for weatherization to promote energy efficiency in residences and other buildings including home energy audits, installation of insulation, weather stripping and caulking of windows and doors, and carbon monoxide and radon inspection and detection systems. . (Dallas County News, IA)
Some homeowners, concerned about radioactivity, testing granite countertops Mar 17, 2009
Some are wondering about the radiation and radon gas that might be emanating from those showy slabs ... And radon professionals say some homeowners now want their countertops tested along with the rest of the house ... When testing does reveal high radon levels, the gas is usually emanating from the basement, not the kitchen. (Herald Online, SC -- Lifestyles)
Control your DNA destiny Mar 13, 2009
And test your home for radon, an odorless gas released from rocks and soil thats linked to up to 14 percent of all lung cancer deaths each year. For info on ordering an at-home test, call the National Safety Councils radon hotline at 800-767-7236. (MSNBC -- Health)
Brookfield Ponders Health Post Feb 28, 2009
"This has been evidenced through past town experiences and expenses related to asbestos issues, radon and contaminated water issues, and water service delivery on Federal Road necessary for future growth," she said during the presentation, which included comments from Ms. Culbert and Pamela Kilbey-Fox, the branch chief for state local health administration. "Local public health should be just as important as police and fire protection," Mrs. Farrell said. (Brookfield Journal, CT)
EPA to follow up on GE Powerex clean-up Feb 25, 2009
Adequate ventilation will help reduce indoor air levels of TCE. If it is in the air as a result of vapor intrusion, a sub-slab depressurization system, much like a radon mitigation system, will reduce exposure by reducing movement of vapors beneath a slab into a building. If it is in the water supply, a carbon filter on the water will minimize ingestion and inhalation exposure. (Auburn Citizen, NY)
Get the lead out of homes Feb 20, 2009
Some cities now require a lead test at the time of a home sale, much as is done for radon. When a rental unit turns over, a quick lead test should also be required. (NJ.com -- Times)
Exposure To Ash From TVA Spill Could Have 'Severe Health Implications' Feb 15, 2009
He has conducted extensive research on radon and radium contaminants in the ground waters of western North Carolina and the Middle East. He and Ruhl collected the water and solid ash samples at sites affected by the TVA spill on Jan. 9. (Science Daily)
3 Convincing Reasons to Quit Smoking Feb 14, 2009
Obviously, there is a corrupt, politically-motivated coverup of a far larger cause of lung cancer than radon or secondhand smoke. http://www. (U.S. News & World Report)
Student wins radon poster contest Feb 11, 2009
Contest winner Nanki Udhwani, from left, with Oconee County Commission Chairman Melvin Davis and radon educator Becky Chenhall. Nanki Udhwani, a sixth-grader at Oconee County Middle School, placed first in the Oconee County Radon Poster Contest sponsored by the University of Georgia County Cooperative Extension College of Family and Consumer Sciences' radon education program ... Oconee County Commission Chairman Melvin Davis recognized Nanki on Jan. 29, when he signed a proclamation that... (Athens Banner-Herald)
Bill seeks to follow other states in banning public smoking statewide (1909) Feb 11, 2009
Mac1974 wrote on Feb 9, 2009 3:34 PM:" Doh, there's radon! lol I knew that was going to come up at some point. @da'lake is in da'nial " ... da'lake wrote on Feb 9, 2009 3:01 PM:" Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas.You can't see radon. And you can't smell it or taste it. But it may be a problem in your home.Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year. That's because when you breathe air containing radon, you can get lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned... (Jefferson City News Tribune, MO)
Health InfoCenter Feb 8, 2009
Free Radon Test Kits. For more on Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. (WCAX.com, VT)
