Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the breakdown of elements such as uranium, within soil. Although we are all exposed to a small amount of radon each day, being around elevated levels of radon on a regular basis has very serious health consequences. Because radon radiates from soil, it can enter buildings from below through cracks and gaps in floors or foundations. Once in a building, it becomes trapped, and reaches high concentrations over time. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has assigned every county in the U.S. a specific zone level. They are categorized into three zones and each are with a declared zone, predicts the probability of measured elevated levels of radon gas. Zones 1 and 2 represent elevated levels of radon likely to be found which is considered significant. Zone 3, however, is an area in which average concentrations of radon are dangerously high. If you live in the New Jersey area there is a very good chance that you are in a designated Zone 2 or 3. The EPA stresses that regardless of what zone you live in, every homeowner should have his or her home tested for radon gas.
Aside from soil, there are two other sources of radon: building materials themselves, and ground water. When ground water is contaminated by radon via the soil, it can enter your home by simply turning on a faucet because at this time small amounts of radon gas are released into the air of your home. Although this is not a significant amount of gas, it contributes to the problem. There are some building materials (granite in particular) that can release radon, although the amounts are generally so negligible as to be considered dangerous. In the United States, soil is the principal source of elevated radon levels. For this reason, those who live on lower levels, closer to the ground are likely to have higher exposure to radon gas.
Radon gas is colorless, odorless and generally undetectable to humans. This is part of what makes it so dangerous. Be aware, by the time someone in your family has become ill from radon exposure, everyone else in the household also has been exposed to radon. It is vital that you have your home tested for radon, whether you are just purchasing a house or have lived in it for many years. Without a radon inspection, there is no other way to determine if you and your family are breathing in high amounts of radon gas.
The EPA states that there is no safe threshold for exposure to radon. It is linked to serious, in fact, fatal health conditions and should be avoided wherever possible. The lower your exposure, the better your health will be. According to the EPA, radon is the cause of thousands of lung cancer deaths every year in the United Sates, second only to smoking as the contributing factor which leads to cancer.
When you decide to have your home tested for radon, you can either hire a professional home inspection service to conduct a radon test, or get a test to do it on your own. Do it yourself home testing kits are simple to use and are inexpensive. They will give you a good baseline reading. Most of these testing kits are ‘passive’ devices, meaning that they do not need any power to operate. The most commonly used type is a device, either a bag or box that is filled with activated charcoal. The charcoal absorbs chemicals that are in the air. After leaving it in the lowest level of the house for a specified period of time, it is sent to a lab for analysis and you will receive a report and interpretation.
The other kind is an active tester, which means it runs on power. These function in almost the same manner as a smoke detector. Although, they are not quite as accurate as a charcoal activator, this kind of test provides a continuous or periodic readout, which is an advantage.
If you prefer, a qualified home inspection service can perform a radon test for you. Although the cost is somewhat higher, you will not have to worry about whether or not you have tested correctly, and the results will come back sooner. Whichever kind of radon testing you choose be sure that you have your home inspected for radon. It is a worthwhile investment in your and your family’s health.
If you are interested in checking radon levels in a particular area or geographic location, click on this link http://www.epa.gov/radon/zonemap.html. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set up a map identifying radon zones within the United States, listing their current radon levels.
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