Radon has now been identified as the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. according to the Surgeon General. Only tobacco smoke causes more deaths. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has disclosed that Radon Gas causes about 20,000 lung cancer deaths per year.
With an estimated 8 million U.S. homes affected, The Surgeon General of the United States is recommending that all homes be tested for this invisible killer.
Radon is a gas that is formed naturally when uranium in rock, soil and groundwater breaks down. The Radon gas then finds its way up to the surface. Unlike other forms of pollution or dangerous gasses, you can neither see nor smell Radon.
Most of the time, Radon escapes into the atmosphere outdoors where levels of the gas are not excessive. However, when drawn into a home or building, it can pose a health risk.
The Radon in the ground below your house collects in the air spaces and aggregate beneath the slab or crawl space and becomes drawn into the living areas of the house. It can also enter through cracks in floor, walls, drains, or sump pumps. Most newer homes are much better insulated than older ones which traps the radon gas inside. So in this case, having a well-sealed home contributes to the problem.
About one in every 15 homes in the US has excessive Radon levels, and in many cases, the problem is identified when a home is sold. In worst case scenarios, the problem is identified after an occupant develops lung cancer.
If you find that your home has a dangerous radon level (which is anything 4.0 or above according to the Environmental Protection Agency) there is no need to panic. Radon levels can be effectively reduced to safe readings by having a radon reduction system installed. This is done by installing pipes through the foundation and attaching them to a suction fan which discharges the gas above the roof of the home. According to Jamey Gelina, a Certified Radon Specialist, "A radon mitigation system can be installed in most homes for around $1,000. - 15437
With an estimated 8 million U.S. homes affected, The Surgeon General of the United States is recommending that all homes be tested for this invisible killer.
Radon is a gas that is formed naturally when uranium in rock, soil and groundwater breaks down. The Radon gas then finds its way up to the surface. Unlike other forms of pollution or dangerous gasses, you can neither see nor smell Radon.
Most of the time, Radon escapes into the atmosphere outdoors where levels of the gas are not excessive. However, when drawn into a home or building, it can pose a health risk.
The Radon in the ground below your house collects in the air spaces and aggregate beneath the slab or crawl space and becomes drawn into the living areas of the house. It can also enter through cracks in floor, walls, drains, or sump pumps. Most newer homes are much better insulated than older ones which traps the radon gas inside. So in this case, having a well-sealed home contributes to the problem.
About one in every 15 homes in the US has excessive Radon levels, and in many cases, the problem is identified when a home is sold. In worst case scenarios, the problem is identified after an occupant develops lung cancer.
If you find that your home has a dangerous radon level (which is anything 4.0 or above according to the Environmental Protection Agency) there is no need to panic. Radon levels can be effectively reduced to safe readings by having a radon reduction system installed. This is done by installing pipes through the foundation and attaching them to a suction fan which discharges the gas above the roof of the home. According to Jamey Gelina, a Certified Radon Specialist, "A radon mitigation system can be installed in most homes for around $1,000. - 15437
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