You might even be surprised to find it in your own home. It has no color, no odor and no taste. Indoor radon is very dangerous for the overall health of the family. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that approximately 20,000 deaths result from radon gas exposure each year due to radon-causing lung cancer. Many sources cite radon as the number two cause of lung cancer, surpassed only by smoking.
Radon at Home
Considering that you cannot sense radon, you can be entirely unaware of its presence within the walls of your home. Since radon is a gas, and considered as the heaviest of gases, it easily penetrates materials at home. It can lodge itself on paper, plastic bags, paints, concrete block, mortar and wood paneling. You can just imagine the dangerous effects of having walls and materials at home with radon concentration. Your whole family could be exposed to radioactive material.
Testing for Radon
Although radon is a silent killer, you can protect your family from exposure by ensuring toxic levels are not present in your home. Testing for radon can be performed in your home. You can hire a professional radon mitigator who will determine whether or not there is a presence of radon in your home. Or you can opt for utilizing radon detectors to reduce the possibility of radon going undetected.
Radon Mitigation Techniques
If radon is present in your home, there are some steps that you can take to reduce the level. Initially, you’ll need to determine the source of radon. Sources may include the soil that your house is built on as well as the water that enters your home. Once you have identified the source, radon reduction techniques can be implemented.
You can seal cracks and other openings so air contaminated by radon from the outside can not get in; at the same time, clean indoor air will not escape. Make sure, though, that you have proper ventilation when tightening the house.
If your water source has been contaminated by radon, you can utilize charcoal filters that can purify your water before it enters your home.
Radon control at home will help to abate the risks associated with radon exposure. The costs may seem high, but the health benefits you receive will be well worth it.
