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Updated in 10/24/2022 11:20:40 PM      Viewed: 90 times      (Journal Article)

Home Radon Facts

Mike Miller
ABSTRACT
Radon has been linked to almost 20,000 cases of lung cancer fatalities. Radon is a radioactive gas that can cause cancer but has no discernible odour, taste, or visual appearance and may be present in your home. Medical expenses related to radon exposure, the second biggest cause of lung cancer deaths in the United States, total over $2 billion annually. It's nine times as dense as air despite being colourless and having no chemical reactions. Leather, paper, low-density plastic, building materials, paints, mortar, concrete block, wood paneling, sheathing paper, and most insulations are just some of the usual things it may easily penetrate.

How to pass a radon test in a residence exceed the maximum authorized by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission by around 35 times. Example: a fifth grader spending eight hours a day, 180 days a year in a room with a radon level of 4 pCi/l will be exposed to nearly 10 times the amount of radiation allowed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Radon exposure occurs mostly through inhalation and ingestion. Radon gas emitted from soil, rocks, and water seeps into homes and breaks down into radioactive byproducts. Ingestion may be a contributing factor in radon exposure, however, inhalation from water is the most common route of exposure.

If you want to know how much radon is in your home, the only way to do so is to get it tested, as there are no outward signs of its presence. It could be years before any issues arise. All 50 states have had high radon levels found. There are ways to bring down excessively high radon levels in a home to acceptable levels. Do-it-yourself solutions to radon issues often cost less than $500. You can find qualified radon mitigators in your neighborhood if you need their assistance.

Many property owners have already conducted inspections. One in fifteen homes in the United States has dangerously high radon levels. If you want more general information about radon, you should get in touch with your state's radon agency. While radon issues are more prevalent in some locations, they can affect any dwelling. Risks are always present because there is no known safe amount of radon. However, by reducing the radon level in your home, you can significantly reduce the danger.

Sealing wall and floor cracks can help lower radon levels in a home. Pipes and fans are examples of relatively straightforward infrastructure that can be used. Don't forget to recheck your home's radon level after any big modifications you make, as this could affect the results. Retail stores like hardware stores also carry testing kits. If you undertake your own radon testing and find elevated levels in your home, you shouldn't put an exhaust fan down there. Remember that there are radon cleanup regulations that must be adhered to. In many areas, acquiring a cleanup permit and setting up the system necessitates the services of a professional contractor.

The Facts About Radon


The media is always trying to frighten the public with stories about the latest deadly virus or dangerous substance that could affect their family. Since radon is currently a topic of much discussion and its effects may seem exaggerated at times, it may be tempting to classify it here. But radon's effects are more severe than most people realise.

Released from the soil, radon is a radioactive gas that can spread throughout a house and cause cancer. The uranium in the soils of the United States, when broken down, creates radioactive elements like radium and polonium. When radon is discharged alongside polonium, the air and water become very poisonous. Because radon, for example, can't be detected by the senses of smell, taste, or sight, these gases can be harmful to human health.

According to the EPA, radon is responsible for 21,000 lung cancer deaths annually, making it the second largest cause of lung cancer behind smoking. In fact, Dr. Richard H. Carmona, the U.S. Surgeon General, issued a nationwide health advisory on radon in 2005. Lung cancer has few outward signs and often goes undetected until it has progressed significantly.

The EPA and the United States Surgeon General both advise having all residences with levels of radon below the third floor tested. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also supports testing in educational institutions. A radon mitigation expert should be contacted if the radon level in a building is 4 pCi/L or above. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that even extremely high radon levels can be decreased to acceptable levels by using certain radon reduction devices.

The World Health Organization (WHO) of the United Nations has declared that radon is now a global health issue in homes. According to Dr. Maria Neira of the World Health Organization, "most radon-induced lung malignancies originate from low and medium dose exposures in people's homes."

As stated by the EPA, there are a variety of entry points for radon in any type of facility (homes, schools, offices, etc.).

  • Floors with visible cracks
  • Joints in Buildings
  • Walls with cracks
  • Inconsistencies in suspended floor construction
  • Void areas around utility pipes
  • Spaces within the walls
  • Our water supply
  • Lung cancer can only be defeated once and for all through preventative measures. Protect yourself and your loved ones against radon's health risks by having your home's radon levels mitigated. Get your house checked for radon right now.