Radon Mines: Health Risk Or Montana Lourdes?

Radon is responsible for 20,000 cases of lung cancer in this country each year, according to U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona. The government has stepped up its campaign to educate the public and fast track remediation nationwide. "Not so" say the folks in Montana, where radon health mines offer promise of arthritis cures and help for people with pain, gout, migraine, and poor circulation. The Merry Widow Mine has campground facilities and attracts visitors from all over North America. The owner of the Earth Angel mine touts the healing properties of breathing radioactive air and drinking radioactive water. Recalling an experience with his dog, Mr. Stup, he says, "Now I seen a dog go in that mine that couldn't hardly walk," he says, "and by about the second day he was chasin' rabbits. That was my rabbits that he was chasing."

Comments

[Bill Brodhead]

Frances
I hope your readers do not assume after reading your article that radon is 100% good for you. Every medicine you take has side effects and sometimes the side effects will kill you. It may be that radon temporarily reduces inflamation although this has not been proven but the side effect, lung cancer, has been proven. Having lost two relatives to lung cancer it is not a pretty sight. Just today I received a copy of the Feburary issue of Epidemiology Journal with an article of a careful scientific study combining previous radon studies to show a significant increased risk of lung cancer from being exposed to as little as 4.0 pCi/l for 5 to 30 years. Lung cancer is not to be taken lightly. The radon mine website mentions that their clients average age is 70 years old. If I had arthritis at that age I would consider the possible benefit worth the risk but not otherwise.
sincerely
Bill Brodhead www.wpb-radon.com

[Frances Flynn Thorsen]

Bill:

It is possible that my tongue was planted a little too deeply in my cheek when I wrote the post about radon. I used irony as a vehicle to speak to the incredulity of the matter of "health mines". I was an advocate of radon testing and remediation for many years; I became a stronger proponent after watching my mother die of lung cancer 5 1/2 years ago. My son bought a house last week and I urged him strongly to have his property tested. TheREALTYgram Blogger readers should know that Mr. Brodhead is one of the most respected radon professionals in the country. I thank him for his comments.

[steven davies]

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