Lung Cancer Awareness Month

November Is Lung Cancer Awareness Month: Test for Radon Gas

What You Don't Know Could Be Hurting You

Lung cancer accounts for about 27 percent of all cancer deaths and is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. Nearly everyone has a friend or family member who has been affected by cancer in some way. To increase awareness and patient advocacy, The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) is leading a joint effort for Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November.

You can get involved this November by sharing your own personal stories about lung cancer on social media with the hashtag #LCAM, and educating your friends and family about lung cancer prevention. One of the biggest steps in lung cancer prevention is testing for radon, a naturally-occurring carcinogen, in your home. Here are a few things you should know about radon gas and lung cancer.

Radon and Lung Cancer Aren't Unrelated 

Radon is an element that can take the form of a gas under natural conditions. Since it naturally occurs as the rocks and soil that contain uranium break down, it can enter the atmosphere inside your home or seep into groundwater. The danger, however, is that radon is radioactive, meaning that as it breaks down, it releases high-energy particles. These particles have negative impacts on the cells in your lungs, and when they damage the DNA inside cells, harmful mutations known as cancers can occur.

Radon Is Hard to Detect

Some building contamination problems are easy to notice. Unfortunately, radon isn't quite as detectable. Radon gas doesn't have a taste or smell that humans can naturally sense, and it's invisible. Buying a radon test kit to conduct a thorough radon test of your is the most accurate way to determine whether you have a problem. Test kit are available at most home improvement stores, or you can purchase a kit at 911Radon.com for $5.00 with promo code LCAM. These kits are fairly easy to set up and only require three days of being set up in the lowest level of the home. After three days, send the test kit into the lab in the postage paid envelope. Results are typically available within 48 hours of being received by the lab.

Lung Cancer is Not Just for Smokers

When it comes to contracting lung cancer, the U.S. EPA notes that radon is the most prevalent risk for those who don't smoke. It's worth noting, however, that diseases like lung cancer can be progressive. Radon can also contribute to heightened cancer risks among smokers. In total, radon exposure is believed to kill around 21,000 lung cancer sufferers annually, which is even more than those who die from secondhand smoke.

Why November Is a Good Time to Test

The factors that contribute to lung cancer can be complex. November's heightened focus on awareness makes this a great time to give friends and family testing kits, especially in regions where the coming cold weather and snow can cause radon levels to be elevated. Although the EPA says that quitting smoking is always a smart idea, the agency maintains that repairing your property to keep radon out is just as critical.

Testing is the only way to be aware of the radon problem in your home. After the levels of radon are known, correcting the issue starts with a phone call to your local Radon Mitigation Specialist. Radon mitigation is the best solution to a radon problem. Testing the home, again, after the repairs and solutions are in place, helps to ensure that your radon mitigation system works the way you expect.

Are you ready to take charge of your health during this Lung Cancer Awareness Month? Visit SWAT Environmental to learn more

Nothing is Scarier than Radon

SWAT Environmental Helps to Mitigate Radon Gas Problems

As Halloween approaches, thoughts of ghosts and goblins fill the minds of many children. However, there is something out there that all adults should fear as well: the existence of radon gas in their home. Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that can pervade your home and slowly poison your family, if left unchecked. Here are a few things you should know to keep your home safe for your trick or treaters this Halloween!

What is radon? Why should I be concerned about it?

Radon is a gas formed by the decay of the element uranium, which occurs naturally in rocks, soil and water. It is colorless, odorless and it rises up through the soil into the air above. Radon is found in all 50 states, and can filter up through the foundation of homes, schools, and office buildings. 

Once in the home, inhabitants breathe in gas particles which become lodged in the lungs. Since radon is formed from uranium, a naturally radioactive element, it emits ionizing radiation which can irreparably damage the lungs. In fact, after smoking, radon poisoning is the leading cause of lung cancer. Damage can be particularly bad in children, whose lungs are smaller and still developing. 

Who should be concerned about radon?

Because radon is naturally occurring throughout the United States, there is almost always some radon gas present in the air. As such, it would be wise for all homeowners to consider having the radon levels in their home measured. The only way to detect dangerous levels of radon gas in your home it to have the air tested.

How can I have my radon levels checked?

A testing kit is available for do-it-yourself measurements. After following the directions for sampling the air in your home, the kit is mailed to a laboratory where the levels of radon are measured. The professionals at SWAT Environmental will gladly provide you with a 3rd party lab tested Radon Test Kit. Order the radon test kit now at 911Radon.com for $5 with promo code TSTNOW, shipping and lab fees are paid for. 

How are radon levels measured?

Radon is measured in picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L). While there are no safe levels of radon, higher measurements could indicate that your health may be at risk. The average amount of radon encountered in homes has been found to be around 1.3 pCi/L. At this level, the risk of illness is low. If your home has measurements of between 2-4 pCi/L, you should consider taking action. If measurements show that your home has more than 4 pCi/L of radon, you are at a high risk for illness. Remember, there is no safe level of radon.

What should I do if my test results show high levels of radon?

If your home testing shows that there are high levels of radon present, you should contact a certified radon mitigation technician. This professional specializes in the installation of systems that remove and mitigate any radon gas found in homes. The most common method of radon mitigation makes use of a vent pipe and a fan. The fan pulls the radon from the lowest point of the house and vents it outside the home through a pipe. 

Before you start planning your Halloween parties and fall break events, get the radon levels in your home tested, and if need be, get a radon removal system in place. It is important that you make sure that the radon mitigation professional you hire is qualified and trained to fix this type of problem. This will assure that they have the expertise and experience to choose the processes that will work best in your home. If you need radon gas mitigation or are looking for more information regarding radon, feel free to visit our home page Swat-Radon.com.

Why Ask a Stupid Question About Radon?

There are no stupid questions when it comes to your health and the health of your family. Homeowners need to know radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and is responsible for roughly 21,000 deaths per year. Everybody has questions about radon once they learn of its hidden dangers. September 28th is Ask A Stupid Question Day, typically observed the last school day of September. On this day SWAT Environmental urges every homeowner, parent, teacher, and business owner to “Ask a Stupid Question”, that others are more than likely wondering as well.

How does Radon exposure affect your lungs?

Radon is the number two cause of lung cancer, second only to smoking. Radon decays and gives off radioactive particles. When inhaled, these particles can damage lung cells leading to lung cancer. Being exposed to 4 picocuries during typical waking hours is equivalent to smoking a half pack of cigarettes during that time.

Who discovered Radon?

German scientist, Friedrich Ernst Dorn, discovered radon in 1900. Radon, a naturally occurring element, was given number 86 on the periodic table and is the last of the noble gases. Radon can be found in low levels in the atmosphere and some bodies of water due to dispersion. It has been found in wells, and soil around and under structures.

How do I know if I have radon in my home or business?

Radon is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas much like carbon monoxide and exposure happens in homes, offices and buildings. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states it has been found in all fifty states and 1 out of 15 homes nationally have elevated levels of radon. Some states have high radon levels in 50% of the homes. The only way to know if you have elevated radon levels is to test. Radon test kits can be purchased at home improvement stores or at 911Radon.com. The average price for a radon test kit is $20.00. If the results come back with radon levels at or above 4 pCi/L, the EPA recommends mitigating the problem.

How does radon get removed from a building?

Through the mitigation process, radon can be diverted from below the home to the outdoor exterior, where it can disperse into the exterior air. The goal of the mitigation process is to reduce the concentration of the radon gas to a level where it is no longer harmful to the occupants of the building. Since radon is naturally occurring, there will always be small traces in all homes and buildings, but the goal is to be below 4 pCi/L.

What is the cost of a radon mitigation system?

Radon mitigation costs can vary based on the levels, the foundation of the building, and if there could be a major outlet allowing radon into the structure, such as a crawl space or major cracks in the foundation. However, the overall cost compared to many minor home improvements is about the same or even less.

If you have more questions about radon, know that they are not stupid, and check out the FAQs. Call SWAT Environmental if you cannot find the answers you are looking for at 1-800-NO-RADON (800-667-2366).

An invisible danger in many homes and schools

As kids return to school across the nation, you might find yourself thinking about child safety. Some parents take steps to protect youngsters from illnesses, accidents or bullying. Unfortunately, numerous Americans overlook the threat of radon gas. This odorless substance causes far more lung cancer fatalities than secondhand cigarette smoke, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

Health Risks

Children's minds and bodies have yet to fully develop, so they're particularly vulnerable. Kids also possess relatively small lungs. This forces them to breathe more quickly and inhale extra particles. The risk for childhood leukemia increases with exposure to radon gas. Excessive radon levels raise the likelihood of a leukemia diagnosis by about 20 to 60 percent. Students sometimes develop cancer before reaching adolescence.

Home Testing

If you want to protect your children from this serious danger, the first step is to test your home. About 7 percent of American dwellings contain too much radon. It's particularly important to check indoor air for this gas. If your drinking water comes from a well, consider testing it. Water can also deliver harmful radioactive particles with the potential to trigger stomach cancer.

School Testing

Almost 20 percent of American schools contain one or more classrooms with excessive radon gas levels. This means that students probably face dangerous conditions in over 70,000 classrooms nation-wide. Nonetheless, many municipal governments have yet to test the air in local school buildings. Another problem is that most states don't require these facilities to properly address radon contamination.

The Environmental Protection Agency urges every school to undergo testing. You can help make this happen by contacting your child's educational institution. Ask for the test results and suggest that the school perform testing if it hasn't already done so. Does the building have any classrooms in its basement? If so, children may face a greater risk of radon-linked medical problems.

Solutions

When a test reveals excessive radon levels in a home or school, mitigation professionals can address the problem. Greater ventilation often provides an effective solution. Building owners may also seal cracks in the foundation, but this strategy usually doesn't work as well. Water aeration or filtration removes radioactive particles from drinking water. People spend more money to install aeration equipment, but it eliminates the need to replace and dispose of filters.

SWAT Environmental provides the testing supplies needed to check a building for radon gas. Our company also works to banish this hidden carcinogen from homes and schools. During the past 29 years, we've served over 100,000 customers throughout the nation. We tackle this problem in residential, commercial and public buildings. For further details on the best ways to protect your children from radon, please contact us today.

Be a Good Friend

Keep your friends' health in mind on Friendship Day


Hallmark created Friendship Day almost a century ago, but Americans largely forgot the new holiday within two decades. Nonetheless, it resurfaced in 2011 when U.N. officials designated July 30 as the International Day of Friendship. The global organization highlighted camaraderie's potential to solve many of the world's problems. This holiday provides an excellent opportunity to spend time with friends and find new ways to help them.

To celebrate Friendship Day, send a greeting card or pick up the phone. Tell someone what you really like about him or her. You could give your best friend a small gift and a hug. These actions cost little or nothing, yet they can truly make a big difference. It's also important to think about your friends' health on this occasion.

You can help promote healthy living with your presents and advice. If you give a gift card, choose a store or restaurant with nutritious foods. Consider buying products that will help a smoker stop using tobacco. You don't have to spend any money to warn friends about radon gas. This radioactive substance exists in most soil, and tiny openings in foundations allow it to invade numerous homes.

Radon doesn't trigger any immediate symptoms, but it has the ability to inflict serious medical harm in the long run. This gas represents the second most prevalent cause of lung cancer. It's particularly dangerous for friends who smoke cigarettes or cigars. A risk of stomach cancer also exists if this contaminant enters drinking water. Over 20,000 Americans die from radon exposure each year.


If your friend decides to check his or her home for radon, SWAT Environmental can supply a high-quality test kit. We also provide effective mitigation services. Our company has assisted people across the United States for nearly three decades. Customers can rely on our staff to deliver long-term solutions that genuinely protect their health. Please contact SWAT today to learn more about radon testing.

SWAT Environmental Urges Summer Safety

Summertime: when the kids are out of school and the adults have barbecues. We know that summertime brings adventures and new experiences. With the new adventures comes the risk of injuries and danger.  SWAT Environmental wants to inform you of all the threats of hazards that can arise in the summer months.

 A big safety threat is the sun. Summer time has the best weather of the year and people love to be outside and bask in the warmth of the sun’s rays. So many people are also interested to see how tan they can get each summer. Tan lines are a badge of honor when returning to school; showing other classmates or coworkers that you have multiple summer adventures during the previous weeks. However, tanning and spending your days out in the sunlight can have a harmful effect on your skin. Sun damage and UV radiation is the leading cause of skin cancer in people at any age. The application of sunscreen to the body everyday will protect the skin even of the sunniest of days. You can still get a tan while wearing sunscreen, so why wouldn’t you apply?

One of the other risks that can occur during the warm summer months is Radon gas. According to a study done by Pennsylvania State University, levels of radon gas may be as much as 10 times higher in the summer than in the winter. Since Radon is found in the soil, the weather patterns and temperature play a part in how high the levels could be. The main testing season for this gas is in the winter, but with the conclusion of the study saying that levels can be higher in the summer, homeowners are encouraged to test year-round. Radon may also be a huge risk if temperatures get extremely high in the summer. If the summer sees unusually high temps, homeowners may be tempted to turn the air conditioning on, sealing the house from any outside influence. This would keep all the radon-infused air inside, contaminating the habitant’s lungs. With the environment always changing, temperatures fluctuate every day. Testing for Radon gas in the summer is just another way of ensuring the safety of the home.

Always make sure to acknowledge the possible dangers in every day, summer living and try to diminish them. Most threats lay in unknown areas. SWAT Environmental urges homeowners to pick up a test kit and test their homes for the possibility of elevated levels of radon gas. One test goes a long way in the continued safety and health of families nationwide. It is the invisible dangers that can hurt the most.

SWAT Environmental Celebrates Small Businesses

Throughout the month of July, SWAT Environmental would like to bring awareness to the importance of small businesses. According to a study, small businesses make up over 98% of all businesses in America. Walking down the Main Street of a small town is perhaps a big indicator of just how many small businesses exist in the area. There is sometimes a stigma surrounding small, local businesses, and many believe they don’t last long. Interestingly, approximately half of small businesses survive five years or more, as reported by Forbes. SWAT Environmental is so honored to be part of this impressive club. Our small business has been up and running since 2002, and it is all in thanks to the homeowners that are just as passionate about safe, clean, Radon gas-free air in the home as we are.

Ever since starting the company, SWAT Environmental has expanded its little business into over 35 states, and franchised into 14. This also means that SWAT has created a multitude of new jobs, whether it be as certified radon mitigation technicians or in the office setting. According to ECapital.com, small businesses employ over 57% of the country’s private workforce, and 60-80% of all new jobs come from small businesses. Something that SWAT Environmental is passionate about is supporting other businesses with the same roots that they have, all while working towards the goal of helping families breathe easier. Every big, successful business is just a small business that grew up. SWAT has spread the word about radon mitigation and how important testing is, and America is listening. Continue supporting small businesses this month by purchasing a test kit and finding out what the Radon gas level is in the home. One test is all it takes to ensure the health and safety of families nationwide.