Radon and Other Carcinogens

[Cha]

My eyes started to hurt the moment I entered one of my rooms. Later, my throat started to hurt. This has happened several times before. The strange thing is that my eyes don't hurt when I'm in my other rooms. Does radon have a smell? I have never heard of any radon cases over here. I think it's something else cause we live on the sixth floor. I heard radon comes from the ground.

I don't think there's something wrong with the air conditioner because sometimes my eyes sting when I don't use the a/c; however, my eyes sting much more when I turn the a/c on. I went to the "motor" of the a/c, but I didn't notice anything unusual because I'm not an a/c specialist. I'm thinking of calling someone over to check it out.

The walls don't have paint, so I don't think paint is the reason.

Maybe it's the lighting of the room.

Have any of you had this problem before?

[Cha]

epa.gov

wikipedia

[Don Corleone]

You wouldn't be aware of the presence of Radon. It doesn't make your eyes water or your throat hurt, even at high dosages (and certainly not the moment you walk into a room). The severity of the effects of Radon is debatable (as they are with almost all carcinogens), but generally speaking, Radon can over extended periods (>5 years) raise the risk of lung cancer among those 'at risk'.... children, elderly, those with other lung diseases or tissue damage.

If the moment you walk into a room your eyes start watering and your throat constricts, it is much, much more likely that you have a virulent form of mold somewhere in your domicile. Contact an environmental services specialist and describe to them the symptoms you're experiencing. It will be helpful for them if you can have handy: any sources of moisture in the building; do you have anything for air transfer (central air or heat); when was the last time the filters were changed (if they have been) and what particulate level can they screen... stuff like that. They can screen your room and find out what might be in there that's causing the irritation.

Edit: In rereading your post, I saw the mention of the air-conditioner. I'm assuming you mean a window mounted unit. Try taking the filter out of the air conditioner (it's behind the front panel) and was it as per the manufacturer's instructions.