Real Radon Stories- MUST READ

These are real, personal stories posted at http://lungcancer.about.com/u/ua/causesoflungcance1/radon.htm- Radon Stories If you or someone you know has a radon story, please share it. The more awareness we raise about radon, the more lives can be saved. Joe's Story and Legacy When we went to the oncologist, he told us that radon is a known cause of lung cancer. Joe’s lung cancer had already spread to his liver and bones, and he lived six weeks after his diagnosis. Oh my God how I wish I had known beforehand that my husband and I had been living with over four times the EPA action level of radioactive radon gas in our home for 18 years. I discovered this fact one month after Joe’s death. I devote my life to changing laws, educating the public including physicians and legislators, and sharing Joe’s story so no one else is unaware of the deadly power of this invisible killer. It is so very easy to test your home for radon gas and to lower the level with the installation of a mitigation system. Radon gas is present in every state in our nation; it doesn’t discriminate between new or old homes, brick or frame, basement or no basement. The only way to know if a high level of radon is in your home is to test. —GloriaLinnertz Radon in My Home I am a 52 year old 3rd grade teacher who has lived a healthy life style. I have never smoked, never lived with smokers and never worked in a smoking environment, yet I was diagnosed with lung cancer in December of 2008. I was shocked, and so I started researching to find out how I ended up with lung cancer. I found out that radon is believed to be the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. I immediately bought a radon test kit and tested my home (the kit cost us $10). The results came back at over 250 pCi/L. The EPA recommends that people fix their homes when the radon level is between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L. Once we knew about the toxically high concentration of radon in our home, the fix was easy. Forty eight hours after the radon ventilation fan was turned on, the radon level dropped to average 1 pCi/L. I was fortunate, my lung cancer was found while still in stage 1 through an unrelated lung x-ray. My prognosis is great and I am back to teaching. —Debbie Greenman

Radon Levels in the Summer

Summer is a time to be outside, go to the beach, and enjoy a dip in the pool. I don't know about you, but personally I don't do many summer activities that involve the great outdoors. Summer is hot, plain and simple, and with the modern invention of air conditioning my living room couch is far more comfortable than sitting outside. More and more Americans are of a similar mindset, inside is way more comfortable, and most of us don't even think about what that does to our home's radon levels. In the past it was thought that radon levels where at their peak in the winter months because the house is sealed to keep the warmth in, but now our houses are also sealed in the summer to keep our cool air where it belongs, inside. A Pennsylvania State University Study has found that the levels of radon may be 10 times higher in the summer than in the winter. The crazy thing about radon is that weather can affect indoor levels, simply by forcing us to close our windows. Yes, there are scientific reasons that explain why radon levels are higher when it rains, but for the time being the moral of the story is to get your home tested. Regardless of season. Radon is undetectable to humans yet is the cause for an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year (according to the EPA). Testing is simple and, with promo code BLOG, the test kit is free. See future blogs for further explanation about all the things that effect radon levels.

WHY RADON MITIGATION IN SCHOOLS IS NEEDED

IS RADON COMMON IN SCHOOLS? Many schools tend to be older buildings, and they often weren't built to high standards. In addition, older building techniques did not account for the possibility of radon incursions. Because of this, school buildings are at a higher risk than most buildings.Radon mitigation in schools is commonly done by SWAT Environmental. HOW ARE STUDENTS PROTECTED The government requires periodic radon investigations, but many experts believe that these checks are insufficient. Since schools are so large, there are many areas where radon can leak through, where checks may not be sufficient. In addition, radon is notoriously unpredictable, and readings can change dramatically in short periods of time. Radon testing in schools is necessary to detect these leaks. and then schools must respond accordingly to save the future health of the students. HOW DOES RADON MITIGATION IN SCHOOLS WORK? The first step in the battle against radon is detecting how high levels are. No amount of radon exposure is considered safe, and even small levels can indicate much greater potential for problems. Radon mitigation in schools requires ongoing observation, so experts recommend using radon detectors where radon can exist. Visit http://swat-radon.com/index.php/radon-information/55-radon-mitigation-in-schools for full article

Independence Day is Here

The 4th of July week is coming to an end! You can find the most exciting Independence Day events in your town by visiting www.IndependenceDayNow.com and search for your local town. Independence Day only happens once a year, so be sure to enjoy it this year!
http://independencedaynow.com/

Raising Radon Awareness

Radon is one of those things that we seldom think about, if ever. Unfortunately, radon is something that can no longer be avoided. If you own a house, are looking to buy one, or are currently renting your residence, it’s in your best interest to consider radon a natural health risk and get the facts straight. It's time we all take a step in the right direction and learn what we can do to protect ourselves and our family members from the dangers of radon gas. Everyone is exposed to some air pollutants (like radon gas) on an everyday basis - in your home and in your place of business. There is even radon gas in the air we breathe outdoors, but in small enough doses as to leave minimal risk. That's right, the Environmental Protection Agency has stated that the average outdoor radon level is between 0.4pCi/L and 0.7pCi/L. The problem we face in our homes and at work is that exposure of elevated amounts of radon gas over a prolonged period of time can cause serious (and sometimes fatal) health risks, like cancer or lung health issues. Read more at http://swat-radon.com/index.php/radon-information/112-raising-radon-awareness

The Risks of Radon

You could be being exposed to radon as we speak...

Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the U.S. is estimated to have elevated radon levels. Elevated levels of radon gas have been found in homes in your state... While radon problems may be more common in some areas, any home may have a problem. The only way to know about your home is to test.

Radon is the #1 cause of Lung Cancer in Non-Smokers...

Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas. You can't see radon. And you can't smell it or taste it. But it may be a problem in your home. Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year. That's because when you breathe air containing radon, you can get lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. 

If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.

Testing is quick and easy...

Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon. Testing is inexpensive and easy — it should only take a few minutes of your time. Millions of Americans have already tested their homes for radon. 

All information is from The EPA's Citizens Guide to Radon