{"id":49,"date":"2014-05-11T21:40:21","date_gmt":"2014-05-12T01:40:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/radontestingdallas.com\/?p=49"},"modified":"2014-05-11T21:40:21","modified_gmt":"2014-05-12T01:40:21","slug":"radioactivity-decay-pathway-radon-gas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emfsurvey.com\/radioactivity-decay-pathway-radon-gas\/","title":{"rendered":"Radon: The Radioactivity Decay Pathway"},"content":{"rendered":"

Below is a detailed chart showing the radioactivity pathway to radon from the original U-238 atom. Also shown are the different types of radiation:<\/p>\n

Alpha Radiation – (from Radon-222 as an example) high energy helium nuclei (almost no penetrating power, but does a great deal of damage at close range to cells and DNA – will not penetrate outer layer of skin, but can cause direct harm to epithelial cells in the lungs if inhaled) It causes approximately 5 X the damage<\/strong> of gamma Radiation or X-Rays.<\/p>\n

Beta Radiation –\u00a0 high energy electron (much lighter than an alpha particle but it has a greater penetration)<\/p>\n

Gamma Radiation – high energy photon (essentially without mass but has a high penetration factor through shielding)<\/p>\n

\"Penetration<\/a>

Penetration and of Alpha, Beta and Gamma Radiation<\/p><\/div>\n

If you follow the diagram below, the radioactive decay of Radon-222 to Lead-210 results in the emission of 3 alpha particles, 2 beta particles and a discrete amount of gamma radiation. (the nature of which is an electromagnetic wave, not a particle) Because radon decay products (RDPs) are electrically charged particles, they readily adhere to suspended dust particles (which can be inhaled) or other surfaces in a phenomena known as “plate-out”. Either pure RDPs or the particles they are attached to can be inhaled.<\/p>\n

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