Why You Need Your Home To Be Tested For Radon Gas

Smoking cigarettes or inhaling secondhand smoke are not the only ways for people to acquire lung cancer. The presence of radon, a radioactive gas that occurs naturally, is also another hazard to look out for.

Radon is found in rocks, soil, rock, and even water. When uranium is broken down, it is eventually released into the air. It can build up in the long term and may result in serious health issues. Radon can at times be concentrated in homes built on natural soil containing deposits of uranium.

Statistically, about one in 15 U.S. homes is estimated to have radon levels at or above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) action level. The US EPA recommends taking action to reduce radon in homes that have a radon level at or above 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air.

Breathing this invisible, odorless silent killer over a period of time significantly increases the risk of lung cancer by 16% per every 100 Bq/m in long-term average radon concentration. When radon enters the body, the lungs become exposed to small amounts of radiation. Experts say this is not harmful, if in smaller quantities. However, in persistent exposures or larger quantities, radon can damage the cells of the lining of the lungs, increasing a person’s chance of developing lung cancer.

The US EPA, together with the Surgeon General’s Office, has estimated that as many as 20,000 lung cancer deaths are caused each year by radon. Therefore, the importance of radon testing can’t be undermined. Instead, it should be taken seriously in order to ensure the health and safety of the family. Scientists estimate that lung cancer death could be reduced by 2 to 4 percent, or about 5,000 deaths, by lowering radon levels in homes exceeding the EPA’s action level.

If radon mitigation and abatement are not prioritized, there is a chance that the home you live in has dangerous radon levels. Fortunately, there is something you can do to avoid this hazard and that is by testing the radon levels yourself or by hiring professionals to conduct radon testing and inspection services. With

For property buyers, radon abatement is a must to be certain that the family will have safe air to breathe in the new home. Although radon gas may not be completely eradicated from the property, consistent monitoring and radon testing has a significant impact on keeping everyone healthy. If you are building your home, including radon-resistant techniques during the construction also helps tremendously in radon abatement.

Everyone wants to live in a home that has a safe and healthy environment. This includes ensuring radon-free and clean air to breathe. Keep your home safe and call your local radon testing professionals today.