Radon is a type of radioactivity that can get into the air and cause problems for both humans and pets. It can’t be seen or smelled, but it can be detected with radon testing. Can I do a radon test myself? Yes, there are services that can come out and check your home for radon, or you can get a cheap radon test and do it yourself. Generally, you need several tests to put around your home in order to check house for radon. They are usually left in one place for a few days to build up a reading if there is any radon present in that portion of the house.
If you are worried that you have radon in your home, especially if you live in an area that is known to have radon, it’s important to get your home tested. If it turns out that you do have radon, there are ways to mitigate it. These can be on the expensive side, but this process is necessary for the health of everyone who live in the house or spends time there. Mitigating it can be done by a radon mitigation company that is close to you for your convenience.
The main contaminant that everyone is very familiar with is the chemical asbestos, which was used in paint and other building materials for years before it was found that is was a very powerful and harmful carcinogen.
But there is, unfortunately, another chemical that may be found in your home and that may cause particular harm to you and your family. It is called radon. In addition to being a chemical element, it is also a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that can cause cancer, particularly in the lungs. Here is what you need to know about this chemical, radon mitigation and abatement, and protecting yourself:
It Increases the Likelihood of Lung Cancer
The risk of lung cancer increases by 16% per 100 Bq/m increase in long time average radon concentration. Indeed, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the Surgeon General’s Office have estimated that as many as 20,000 lung cancer deaths are caused each year by radon. These are serious numbers, and shows that radon represents a serious national emergency. Don’t let yourself or a loved one fall prey to the effects of radon poisonings.
It is Extremely Common
About 1 in 15 U.S. homes is estimated to have radon levels at or above the EPA action level. For people who move at all often, this number is far too scary, and it means that many, many Americans have lived or do live in this high risk homes. This is why it is extremely important to make sure that you hire a radon testing company to make sure that you are not living in danger.
It Can Be Defeated
Luckily, there isn’t all bad news. The good news is that passive systems of mitigation have been shown to be capable of reducing indoor radon levels by more than 50%. Indeed, radon ventilation fans can reduce this risk even more.
Contact your local radon mitigation company as soon as you can, to have a sump pump excavation, residential radon testing, and more, to protect yourself and your family. Radon mitigation and abatement is essential, which is why you must prioritize finding a company to put energy toward this goal.
