Natural Stone’s Hidden Danger
Created By RISC | 1 year ago
Last modified date : 1 year ago
Stone is a popular material for interior decorations, especially for floors, walls, and furniture in luxury homes.
But the beauty of natural stone can hide a hidden health hazard from radon gas.
So what is radon and how dangerous is it?
The World Health Organization (WHO) claimed in 2009 that high and persistent radon exposure is the top cause of cancer after smoking. It's the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers and raises the risk among smokes by up to ten times.
Radon (Rn-222) is a radioactive gas produced by the decay of radium (Ra-226), which is abundant in the Earth's crust. The intensity is determined by the amount of radium and uranium in each location. Each country has different background radiation. Europe and the United States have a lot due to comparatively high background radon sources.
The main sources of radon in our homes are the ground, the air, groundwater, tap water, and building materials made of stone, soil, or sand. Many international agencies have developed recommendations for indoor radon levels. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) sets a limit for indoor radon of 148 Bq/m³.
Data from the Department of Mineral Resources' Geological Report on Radon Potential in Thailand found that granite poses the greatest radon risk. Regions with silt from granite include Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Sawan, and Uthai Thani. Buildings in such locations need ventilation to stop the gas gathering. But the trend for stone decoration can mean there’s a threat wherever you live. If the stones were obtained from a uranium source, radon radiation will be emitted and, without enough ventilation, it will collect in your home.
There are several ways to keep your home radon-free:
• Have well-designed building ventilation.
• Keep doors and windows open to allow regular airflow.
• Avoid using stone decorative materials if you don’t know the source.
• Send stone samples to the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology for testing.
Story by: Panpisu Julpanwattana, Senior Sustainable Designer at Research & Innovation for Sustainability Center (RISC)
References:
Kusky, T.M. (2003). Geological hazards: A sourcebook. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press.
Li, X., Li, W., Shan, H. & Wang, F. (2020). Radon survey in office room and effective dose estimation for staff. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry,324, 561–568. doi: 10.1007/s10967-020-07082-z
World Health Organization. (2009). Handbook on Indoor Radon: A Public Health Perspective. Retrieved from http:apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/44149/9789241547673_eng.pdf; Jsessionid=555C58F91C7B5FA33B37BDE432A2CED?sequence=