What is Radon Gas and Where Does it Come From?
As a radioactive gas, radon is released as other radioactive elements decay. Radon gas is generated as thorium, uranium, and radium decay in water, soil, and rocks. You can’t see or smell radon as it dissipates into the air.
What is the Connection Between Radon and Lung Cancer?
Breathing high levels of radon gas for long periods is directly connected to lung cancer. Long-term exposure to radon happens when it seeps up from the ground and enters homes through the foundation and walls. Cracks and gaps in walls and foundations let the radon gas inside. It will typically get trapped in basements or on the first floor and rise to dangerous levels.
How Does Radon Cause Cancer?
The radioactive particles in radon damage lung cells when people inhale the gas. In the United States, it’s estimated that over 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year are directly related to radon.
How Can You Find Out If Your Home Has Elevated Radon Levels?
The only way to find out if radon and lung cancer is a threat to your family is to have your home tested for radon. Radon levels vary between homes in a neighborhood. This means you can’t assume that your neighbor’s test will match the situation inside your home. Make it a priority to have your house tested so you know for sure what you’re dealing with.
Weather affects the accuracy of a radon test. Barometric pressure, rain, snow, wind, and other environmental factors cause radon levels to fluctuate day-to-day and month-to-month.
While you can buy DIY tests, it’s better to hire a radon expert for testing. They have more knowledge about testing practices and will deliver reliable results. Someone like yourself can easily get false readings because you won’t know how to accurately test your home.
How to Get Rid of Radon
A radon mitigation professional gets rid of radon via a radon mitigation system that seals the gaps and cracks in the walls and foundation. He or she will then release the gas from your home using a suction and ventilation system.
There’s no denying the link between radon and lung cancer. Get your home tested as soon as possible.
January is National Radon Action Month. Certinspectors provides radon testing to the Hudson Valley. Contact us to book your radon test.