Alpha Track Synthesis Essay

There is a phantom killer lurking in our homes, office buildings, and schools. We cannot see it, taste it, or smell it. In fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it is estimated to cause between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths per year making it the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths following cigarette smoking (EPA). This phantom is the radioactive gas called Radon. Interestingly radon is a form of radiation that is a natural part of our environment. Radiation has always been in the Earth's atmosphere and without it life could not exist. However, too much radiation is lethal (Cole 7). Radiation can be a useful tool under controlled conditions such as in x-rays and cancer therapy. In some parts of Europe
The charcoal canister is used to measure radon levels over two to seven days. The Alpha Track detector is used to measure levels over a period of three to twelve months (Kansas Radon Program Engineering Extension: Kansas State University). Radon detectors are easy to find and can be purchased in hardware stores and other retail outlets (EPA). For the test in my home, I purchased a charcoal envelope test from the Sedgwick County Extension office for six dollars.
The first step in setting up a charcoal test is to find an area in the lowest level of your home that is not exposed to a lot of traffic or drafts. Secondly, you must open the container according to the directions and place it two to three feet form the ground. Ideally, you can sit the canister on a stool or hang it. I hung my test from a tack I pushed into the wall. Last, I waited the allotted amount of time and sent the kit in for testing. One myth about testing is that it is hard to do. When I first started learning about Radon, I thought radon testing had to be left up to the experts. After all, how could I, a non-scientist, test for radiation? It sounds scary and dangerous. Fortunately the instructions for using a test are in layman terms and are easy to comprehend and