Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless radioactive gas that is a decay product of uranium that naturally occurs in soil and rock. the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer, Radon causes 15,000 to 21,000 deaths in the United States annually and has been found and identified in every state. once produced, radon moves through the ground to the air above while portion remains in the earth and dissolves in underground water. It is estimated that over 6% of every home in the United States has elevated levels of radon that may need remediation. the Environmental Protection Agency and many state governments recommends Radon testing. the EPA states that any Radon exposure carries some risk. Radon levels are measured in picocuries. a picocurie (pCi) is a measure of the rate of radioactive decay of Radon. Remediation is suggested if the levels average 4 picocuries per liter or higher ( pCi/L) Unless Radon is tested for, there is no way of knowing how much Radon is present. Some states require radon testing for real estate transactions including property transfer or for mortgage approval on a planned property purchase. if Radon levels are not within an acceptable range within a planned purchase, ventilation remediation may be required before the sale will go through.
Only smoking causes more cases of lung cancer than does Radon exposure. if you smoke and are exposed to higher than normal Radon levels your risk of lung cancer is elevated. the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a Radon risk comparison chart available for those who smoke and who have never smoked. the problem is that Radon gas decays into radioactive particles that can become trapped in your lungs. Over the course of a lifetime, lung tissue may become damaged. Breathing of Radon does not cause any short-term bad health effects such as fever, headaches or shortness of breath and everyone that is exposed to high radon levels will not develop lung cancer, but the potential risk is higher than usual. Radon in drinking water also poses some risk, but research shows those risks are much lower than those risks from breathing radon in the air.
Most indoor Radon comes into a building from the soil or rock beneath it. the Radon becomes trapped under a building and builds up pressure. the built up pressure forces the gases through cracks and other openings in a building and become concentrated. because Radon levels are not predictable, it is wise to purchase an inexpensive Radon test to determine if levels are unacceptable in a home or building.
Radon Exposure
Radon gas causes cancer too, but people aren’t as careful or concerned about radon exposure as they are about overexposure to the sun. So what makes people more careful about UV exposure than they are about radon exposure? The answer probably has something to do with the sun’s ability to cause immediate discomfort. We can’t see ultraviolet light, but its harmful effects can be felt quickly if we get sunburned or have to walk barefoot over solar-heated pavement.
Breathing radon gas causes no immediate discomfort. Radon gas is invisible and odorless. Because we can’t see, feel or smell radon, it’s easy to overlook radon’s harmful potential. but the long-term consequences of radon exposure are undeniable. this indoor air pollutant causes over 21,000 deaths every year in the U.S. just as with UV exposure, children are especially vulnerable to the cell damage that results from radon exposure.
Guarding Against Radon
Protecting your family from radon can be just as easy as protecting family members from too much sun -perhaps even more so. a do-it-yourself radon test kit designed for homeowners costs less than what you’d pay for most beach umbrellas. DIY radon test kits are available at hardware stores, home centers and online. these kits are easy to use and yield accurate results if you follow the manufacturer’s directions.
If test results show a hazardous level of radon gas (4 or more picocuries per liter), there’s no need to panic. Health risks come with long-term exposure, and this can be avoided by calling in a radon a licensed radon mitigation specialist. The price of a typical radon abatement system will certainly exceed a summer’s-worth of beach passes. but protection against cancer-causing radiation is even more important in your house than it is on the beach. And once a radon system is installed, it provides effective protection against radon exposure for years with very little maintenance. The only moving part of a radon abatement system is an exhaust fan that costs less to run every month than a tube of your best sunscreen.
What is the Radon testing procedure?
Radon testing is inexpensive and easy. To perform a radon test simply follow the instructions provided and return the radon sampling bag in the self-addressed envelope. All that is required to collect the sample is to open the package and place the sampler in the area to be tested. the test start date and time and the completion date and time are recorded on the supplied data card that is returned with the collected sample. the sampler should be exposed to the environment in the area being tested for 2 days. the cost of the kit includes a laboratory analysis fee and the detailed report, which will be sent to you.