Ever since the World Health Organization released their test results and confirmation that radon is a proven carcinogen and that radon testing and radon mitigation is necessary throughout the world, homeowners and businesses are beginning to take the risks of indoor radon exposure all the more seriously.

Radon Information

It’s infamous and it’s on the prowl. This gas easily goes unnoticed as it’s invisible, unscented and tasteless. All too often many homeowners are living in radon infested homes, not just for one or two years– but sometimes a lifetime!

Whether you live in the U.S. or India, radon is everywhere. It’s the result of uranium’s decay in soil that causes polonium to be released thus creating such high toxicity.

Seeing as many people don’t know the radon levels within their home, job or school; it’s all the more important that these places are tested. Regardless of the amount, you won’t be able to notice. Regardless of the amount, you could get lung cancer.

“Most radon-induced lung cancers occur from low and medium dose exposures in people’s homes. Radon is the second most important cause of lung cancer after smoking in many countries,” said Dr. Maria Neira of the WHO.

Although very scary, testing and removal is very easy and well worth the investment.

Smoking

The effects of smoking are far more widely publicized and understood in comparison to the effects of this toxic gas. However, although smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, radon exposure is a close second causing an estimated 20,000 deaths each year– according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Read more

Are you just moving into a new home or apartment? Radon is a big issue that you need to be considering when choosing that new living space.

When you’re looking for a realtor, it might be a good sign if the realtor knows a little something about radon. If not, you might not be able to trust the information you’re being provided. First and foremost, ask the realtor the radon levels in the living space. Then ask to see the results, if possible. Next, ask how the space was mitigated and if it’s maintained on a yearly basis.

Why Does Radon Need Maintenance?

Since the soil changes, the foundation shifts, air pressure adjusts, or you’ve had your basement waterproofed– it might be a great time to retest your home’s radon levels. All of these items can affect your home’s levels and if you’re unsure of any changes then you might as well pick up a test at the local hardware store and have the peace of mind that everything is okay.

How Much is Okay?

The good part about all of this is that radon testing is simple and easy. The not so good part is that there technically isn’t a “safe” level of radon in a home. Due to the way a home actually traps the radon within its inner walls, your home is disallowing the radon from escaping and thus the concentration is much higher and more influential than if it came and passed through.

The least amount of radon your radon mitigation expert can obtain, the better. The Environmental Protection Agency has set a standard call for action at a level of 4.0 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) and the average indoor level across the U.S. is below that. In fact it’s about a fourth of that. However, this means that many homes are quite low and many homes are significantly high.

The World Health Organization (WHO) actually states that no level of radon is healthy because many of the known radon-induced cases are actually caused by low to moderate levels. Thus, this reiterates the importance of maintaining the lowest possible radon level within your home.

As long as your home is below 4.0 pCi/L, you should have some peace of mind. However, be sure to ask your contractor to do all he/she can to get it as low as possible. Because of some home’s construction, they actually can’t be reduced any further than their current state. Thus, it becomes very important when buying a home. You don’t want to try and sell a home with high levels of radon gas.

Read more