Could Your Home Be a Radon Gas Hazard?

You and your family may already be in danger your home may be at risk to contain radon gas. Every safe home has at least one smoke and possibly carbon monoxide detector, but how many families have given thought to the dangers of radon. With the following information you will be able to both understand radon’s effects and what you can do to make your home a safer place.

What is radon gas?

Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that occurs worldwide as a byproduct in the environment of natural decay of uranium present in the earth. Radon is present in varying quantities in the atmosphere and soils around the globe. Radon levels vary from home to home, depending on the structure of the house and its surrounding soil. The only way to know if a home has a radon problem is to test it.

How does radon enter your home?

Radon can seep into underground water and remain trapped their, If a home has a ground water supply source (such as a well), there is a greater potential for radon problems. Radon can also enter a house through many small spaces such as:

• Cracks in concrete
• Floor drains
• Sump pump openings
• Wall/floor joints in basements
• Pores in hollow block walls

NOTE: Radon generally concentrates most in the areas of a home closest to the ground. Radon levels will generally decrease in upper stories.

Radon’s health effects

The health risk associated with prolonged inhalation of radon gas is an increased risk of developing lung cancer. There are also indications that risk increases as the level of radon concentration and duration of exposure increases. Radon gas breaks down into radioactive particle that remain in the air. As these particles are breathed in, they break down and release bursts of radiation that damage lung tissue. Out of doors, radon gas diffuses into the atmosphere and is not a health hazard.

Testing for radon

There are several ways to make a preliminary screening test for radon. Kits are available over the counter in hardware, grocery, and convenience stores. Tests that measure the amount of radon in water normally require you to send a sample of tap water to a laboratory for analysis. Short-term testing is one way to determine if radon exists, but long-term testing is a more accurate way to determine if radon is present consistently. Both kinds of testing kits are easy to use.

Ways to rid your home of radon

The costs for radon removal will depend on the number of radon sources, the amount of radon in the land or water supply, and the kind of construction of the house. If radon is present in the water supply, it can be reduced or removed altogether by special filter systems. The cost of installing radon reduction equipment ranges from several hundred to several thousand dollars. When treating radon it is always prudent to use trained personnel.