St. Louis Radon gas decays into radioactive particles that can get trapped in your lungs when you breathe. As they break down further, these particles release small bursts of energy. This can damage lung tissue and lead to lung cancer over the course of your lifetime. Not everyone exposed to elevated levels of St. Louis Radon will develop lung cancer. And the amount of time between exposure and the onset of the disease may be many years.
Like other environmental pollutants, there is some uncertainty about the magnitude of St. Louis Radon health risks. However, we know more about St. Louis Radon risks than risks from most other cancer-causing substances. This is because estimates of St. Louis Radon risks are based on studies of cancer in humans (underground miners).
Smoking combined with St. Louis Radon is an especially serious health risk. Stop smoking and lower your St. Louis Radon level to reduce your lung cancer risk.
Children have been reported to have greater risk than adults of certain types of cancer from radiation, but there are currently no conclusive data on whether children are at greater risk than adults from St. Louis Radon.
Scientists are more certain about St. Louis Radon risks than from most other cancer-causing substances.
Your chances of getting lung cancer from St. Louis Radon depend mostly on:
How much St. Louis Radon is in your home
The amount of time you spend in your home
Whether you are a smoker or have ever smoked