How To Know Your Home Is Radon Free
Radon is responsible for at least 15,000 to
20,000 getting lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S. In fact, radon exposure
is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. This tragedy is
compounded by the fact that both radon testing and radon mitigation are simple
and inexpensive. While nationally 1 in 15 homes may show dangerous levels of
radon, the average levels in many parts of the mid-Atlantic may be two to three
times higher than this. There are no immediate symptoms of radon exposure and
you cannot see, taste, feel, or smell radon. Cancer can show up five to 25 years
after exposure and about 12% of lung cancer diagnoses are caused by radon.
Where Radon Comes From
Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally
in the soil. It is a byproduct of uranium decay. Radon can be found in-new
homes, older homes, homes in need of repair, homes without basements; there is
no pattern. Your neighbor's home might be radon-free, while your home has
dangerous levels. Radon can come from the ground beneath a home, well water, and
various building materials. The only way to know is to test your home, which can
be done for less than $30 with a simple kit available at most hardware stores.
How to Measure Radon
Denver Homeowners can test for radon themselves.
Order a radon test kit and when finished, make sure to return the radon test to
the laboratory with all the required information filled out. Be sure to follow
the test kit instructions to the letter. One of the most common mistakes is over
or under exposing the devices. A radon test result of 4 picocuries (a picocurie
is one trillionth of a curie and measures radioactivity) per liter or higher is
considered to be a high radon level. The average radon level in homes is
1.3pCi/L and .4pCi/L outdoors. The 1.3 pCi/l national average includes homes in
many regions that do not have radon issues. Keep in mind that the 4.0 pCi/l
standard was established as a matter of practicality, not safety. EPA officials
at the time were unsure whether the technology and methods employed in 1984 were
capable of reducing radon levels further. Recent studies show a significant risk
of lung cancer when exposed at levels between 2 and 4 pCi/l. EPA recommends
reducing radon levels to below 2pCi/l if possible.
If you are looking for a Denver Radon Contractor, please call us today at 303-915-5011 or complete our service request form.
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