Radon Exposure in Your Home
What to know about radon gas
Radon gas is a radioactive gas that results from the natural breakdown of uranium in rocks and soil. It cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted, but it may exist in homes in high enough concentrations to cause lung cancer over time. It is important to know that houses do not create radon. It is naturally occurring and comes from the ground. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to detect radon gas and control it when it's found.
How does radon gas get into people's homes?
Radon gas seeps up through the ground and into homes. Houses on more solid rock will generally have less radon than houses on soil that contains spaces or cracks. The soil serves as a filter for the gas (the solid rock is dense and prevents the gas from passing through).
The construction of a house can also affect how much radon gets into it. Houses that are well-sealed and built on solid rock tend to have less radon than houses with cracks in the foundation or gaps around pipes. Any home can have a higher radon level if there is an opening between the soil surrounding it and the living space inside.
The EPA recommends reducing elevated levels of radon only if they are 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) or higher. A working detector should be used to confirm measurements. Air samplers can provide accurate radon levels, but the short-term devices sold in most home improvement stores and advertised on TV aren't necessarily that accurate.
What are the health risks of radon?
Studies show that breathing high levels of radon over time can lead to an increased risk of lung cancer. About 2,900 lung cancer deaths per year in the United States are estimated to be caused by indoor radon. If you smoke and your house has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.
You can't see or smell radon, so you might not know that you're breathing it. You also can't tell by looking at a house whether the levels of radon will be high. The only way to find out is to have a professional test your air quality, and if your home measures 4 pCi/L or more, you need to address the issue.
What can you do to deal with radon gas?
If testing shows that your indoor radon levels are 4 pCi/L or higher, you should consider taking action to reduce the amount of radon in your home. You can choose from three types of actions to control indoor radon:
Fixing cracks and other openings in the foundation
Sealing floors and walls that are in contact with the ground
Installing a venting system that continually pulls radon from under the house and vents it to the outside air
If you are from Tampa, Florida, Build America LLC can help fix cracks, seal floors, and install venting systems for you in an expert manner. You can also turn to companies like Excelsiair for air quality testing.
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