Although the average homeowner cringes when they hear that a lethal gas is trying to kill them right in their own homes, to the experts who study our home planet, Mother Earth is anything but hospitable. There are many geologists who have known for years that radon is only one way the planet is constantly trying to kill us. They point to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes as well as a host of other natural disasters that point to the earth’s naturally destructive tendencies.
To many of these scientists the gas that has caused us all so many sleepless nights is merely the starting point for uranium which is essential for the heating of the earth. For them it’s an essential part of the way that we heat our home. They point to the fact that uranium turns to lead eventually and although the process takes quite a long time in nuclear process of decay, radon is an important part of that. For these people, the gases that radon gives off that collect in basements and ground floors is nothing more than an important part of a natural process.
Still, these scientists concede that radon packs a terribly lethal dose of radioactivity and by its very nature it can drift like an invisible smoke. All that it needs is a crack or opening so that it can escape. And that’s where the homeowner’s problems start. Still having rocks filled with uranium is not enough to start the process in motion that sets free these gases. The rocks must have cracks as well. Following that logic, it’s easy to see why people who have built near volcano site are at a type of double risk since any eruption can also set the radon gases free. That’s also the reason that any abrupt change in the radon levels in an area are strong indicators that some kind of seismic activity is on the way.
We need to remember that radon doesn’t just come from the earth either. Coal burning is also considered another major contributor to the gas being released, and to that end even mine workers have a ceiling of exposure that they can be subjected to. Still lowering these levels is cheap for the most part and most of the experts agree that if the scare surrounding the gas is excessive, it’s much better to be safe than sorry.
Still there are groups that are at higher risk levels than others and according to some studies, those who smoke are at a higher risk level for contracting lung cancer than those who do not. Remember that if you’re a homeowner that cares about the risks involved, then you can contact the proper authorities in your area that will help you to further investigate.
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