History of Radon: How the Element was Discovered in Homes

Radon is a gas that is found in nature. It is the result of the natural decay of uranium, and it can be found in rocks and soil. Radon gas can enter homes through cracks in the foundation, and it can also be released from water supplies. In recent years, radon has been identified as a major health hazard, and it is now considered to be the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. This blog post will tell you more about the history of radon, including how it was first discovered in homes.

History of Radon

Radon was discovered in 1899 by Ernest Rutherford, who was a physicist from New Zealand. Rutherford was working on experiments to study the decay of uranium, and he noticed that some of the gas produced by this process was radioactive. He named the new element radon, and it was later found to be a member of the noble gases family.

Radon in Homes

It wasn’t until the 1980s that scientists began to suspect that radon might be a health hazard. This was because studies began to show an increased incidence of lung cancer in miners who were exposed to high levels of radon gas.

In 1985, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a report which said that radon might be responsible for up to 20,000 cases of lung cancer each year in the United States. This led to the EPA declaring radon a public health hazard, and they set up a program to test homes for the presence of this gas.

In the US, the problem of indoor radon is most severe in the Midwest and East Coast, where the geology makes it more likely for radon gas to enter homes.

The story of how radon was discovered in homes is a cautionary one. This gas can cause lung cancer, and so it is important to test for its presence in your home and act if necessary. The good news is that this problem can be solved with some simple measures, like installing a ventilation system or using a radon mitigation device. So don’t wait – call a radon testing professional today.