Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is sometimes found in homes. It is colorless, odorless and otherwise undetectable except with special testing equipment, but its presence in your home can have dire health consequences. We are all exposed to a small amount of radon in our day-to-day lives; it is when elevated levels are present, problems arise. Radon is a byproduct of the breakdown of certain elements in the soil, and enters buildings from below ground through cracks or gaps in the foundation.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains that there is no safe threshold of radon exposure. However, they have established a point, which for testing purposes, indicates hazardous conditions. Any number over 4 pico-curies (unit measurement of radiation) per liter of air is considered dangerous. The EPA designates every county in the nation as belonging to one of three ‘zones’ which describes the likelihood of the presence of dangerous levels of radon. The ‘zone’ readings are based on average readings for that specified area. Zones 1 and 2 refer to areas of average to moderate exposure. Zone 3, however, is an area in which average concentrations of radon are dangerously high. The state of New York has several counties that fall into this Zone 3 category. While the EPA strongly recommends that all homeowners test for radon gas, this becomes particularly urgent if you live within a Zone 3 area, as the chances are greater that you have been exposed to dangerous levels of radon.
Although most radon gas comes from soil, there are two other common sources of radon: building materials and ground water. Contaminated groundwater can bring gases into homes. When it is present in water, small amounts of radon gas are released into the air when you turn on your water faucet. There are also some building materials; granite in particular, that can contain radon, although the amounts are generally negligible. Soil is the principal source of elevated radon levels in homes and this is why people, who live on lower levels, closer to the ground, are more likely to be exposed.
The presence of elevated levels of radon gas is directly associated with lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General has stated that radon is the number two contributing cause in lung cancer, second only to cigarette smoking. The National Institute of Health has conducted studies that also link exposure to radon with childhood cancers, such as leukemia. Part of what makes radon gas so dangerous is that there is no way to detect it without specialized radon testing. Getting your home tested will allow you to take the necessary steps to reduce the level of radon in your home so that you and your family are not exposed to this dangerous chemical.
There are two different routes that you can take to test for radon. You can order a do-it-yourself home testing kit or you can have a professional inspection company conduct the radon test. Home testing kits have several advantages. They are easy to use, inexpensive and provide results in a reasonable timeframe. If you decide to purchase a do-it-yourself test kit, it is best to get one from a reputable company, as they can address any questions or concerns you may have.
The most commonly used types of home tests are passive devices that don’t require power to operate. Generally, it consists of either a bag or box that is filled with activated charcoal that is designed to absorb chemicals from the air. After leaving the test kit out in the lowest level of your home for a period of time, it is sent to a lab for analysis. The obvious advantage to a short-term kit is that you will receive the test results more quickly.
Active testers are another type of home radon detection. These run on power and operate in almost the same manner as a smoke detector. Radon detectors give periodic readings, usually hourly and some also compile these results to give you daily or weekly averages. Active testers are substantially more expensive than passive test kits and are available online.
Another option is to have a professional radon testing company check your residence for radon. Although it is more expensive, you can be assured that the results are accurate and you can get professional advice as to the significance of the test results and whatever corrective action is needed. Regardless of the type of radon testing you choose it will be a worthwhile investment in your family’s health. Radon testing is not something you should consider skipping or avoiding!
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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