Even if the floor didn't have concrete and went down straight to soil the level would be extremely low. To reach the surface at all the gas has to permeate from deep underground. Concrete will stop it in almost all situations and if there is any ventilation it should disperse it very quickly.
In some parts of my country there are identified Radon risks so new buildings need a plastic sheet gas barrier or forced ventilation to reduce the risks although I heve never heard of anyone being harmed in old and uprotected buildings. In most cases the 'damp course' membrane to stop ground moisture entering the concrete is sufficient to stop gas as well.
Brian.
Radon is a gas and has a short half-life and is an alpha emitter. Inhaled radon is very dangerous. Radon comes from mining activities and can accumulated in enclosed spaces. If your basement has a decent ventilation, you need not worry.
Most common dosimeters detect beta and gamma because alpha is stopped with a Al-foil or a thick cardboard.
Do you think that this can allow significant ammount of radon to come in the house.
Radon is a decay product of Uranium and other series of radioactive elements. These elements have long half lives and they are usually trapped minerals (rock). When the rocks are broken (mining activities) the trapped radon is released (it can happen even with coal mining) and comes out in the air. Normal soil that is exposed to the air has already lost the trapped radon over the ages and is not a threat.
In fact, concrete or cement can be a bigger source of radon than soil. Stone houses (exposed walls) can be also a source.
The risk is extremely small even with the windows closed all the time. ~57Bq/m^3 is classed as very low, consider that measuring almost anywhere in the World will give some small 'background' reading. The build up to dangerous levels could take weeks in an unventelated but pervious room. Circulating the air occasionally by opening windows or doors should keep the Radon down to insignificant amounts. If there were identified high risks, I'm sure the local authorities would advise on ways to insulate existing buildings and insist on barriers being fitted to all new constructions.
Brian.
The wikipedia has some relevant information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radon
Damage from radioactive decay (cancer from radon) is a first order process and is probabilistic in nature. Of course, higher concentration of Radon naturally means greater damage. Remember that Radon comes from the naturally present uranium and thorium in all rocks. These two parent elements have long half lives and they produce radon at a very slow but steady rate. Because it is a gas, it is of concern.
Am I getting the general idea right?
Not quite.
A single atom of radon that enters the lungs and decays while inside can cause considerable damage.
The radionuclide is an alpha emitter; alpha particles have lots of energy but very little penetration power.
In other words, if the concentration is low, chances that one single atom will enter the lungs can decay while inside the lungs and cause severe damage is *LOW*
This "low" is to be understood in a statistical sense; it is just like a car accident. If all of us are careful drivers the accident rate will come down. Unfortunately, the decay products of radon are also radioactive and they can deposit on the tissues causing more damage.
Mostly, the natural concentration of radon is about the background level and because it has a short half life, it cannot build up to a high level. The half life is of the order of days.
Because the numbers are so small, fluctuations are large. In other words, most people who live in the basements do not die of lung cancer (but they are subject to).
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