Defined model

A radon-222 atom decays within the next year

Probability:
(100 − 1.22 × 10⁻²⁷)%
Odds:
(8.22 × 10²⁸) to 1
dBan
+289.1 dBan

With a rounded half-life of 3.8 days, the cumulative probability that one radon-222 atom decays during the next 365 days is extremely close to one.

Calculation

p = 1 − 2^(−365/3.8)

Assumptions

The model uses a constant exponential decay rate and the EPA’s rounded half-life. About half of a large group of radon-222 atoms would decay within 3.8 days.

Sources

  1. US EPA: radionuclide basics — radon updated 22 January 2026