What is radon, how to get rid of radon, and are residential radon testing services something you should look into for your home? Read on to learn all the facts!
- What is radon, and where is radon a problem? Radon is a gas by-product of the decay of certain naturally-occurring particles in our earth. Certain areas of the earth are simply more prone to radon than others. In general, one out of every 15 homes in the United States is estimated to have radon levels that are higher than the action level established by the EPA. Certain states, however, are more prone to radon issues than others.
- Why is radon gas dangerous? According to the Surgeon General, radon is the second-most common cause of lung cancer in modern America and causes about 20,000 deaths every year. The risk of developing lung cancer goes up by 16% per 100 Bq/m over a long period with even average radon concentrations. Scientists currently estimate that we could reduce the number of lung cancer deaths by as much as 2% to 4% simply by lowering the radon levels in homes.
- What can be done about radon in the home? The first step is to contact residential radon testing services and find out what the radon levels are in your home. There are seven states in particular where one in every three homes checked for radon typically has levels over 4 pCi/L. This amount means the family inside the home is being exposed to 35 times the radiation levels that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission would allow them to be exposed to if they were standing outside the fences of a radioactive waste site!
- How is radon testing done? There are both short-term and long-term tests for radon. Residential radon testing services will usually recommend starting with short-term testing, which measures radon levels anything from two to 90 days. If the short-term testing shows an issue, long-term testing, which monitors the home for more than 90 days, can then be arranged.
- What if I have dangerous levels of radon? Is there a radon mitigation and abatement service that works? If residential radon testing services show that you have a problem, it is possible to set up mitigation measures that can effectively lower the levels of radon in your home. Passive systems have proven able to reduce the levels of radon by more than 50%. Even greater reductions are possible when a passive system is combined with radon ventilation fans.
Radon is a serious issue and can be dangerous, but it is possible to protect your family from radon. Look into residential radon testing services near you today and find out the risk in your area and what you can do about it.