What is the Danger of Radon Gas in the Home?

Most people know that the sun’s rays have radiation and it can damage both the skin and eyes. However, many do not realize that the earth itself also gives off radiation. This radiation can seep into the house and become an air hazard in your home. This type of radiation is known as radon gas.

Radon gas comes from the breakdown over time of uranium in the rocks and soil around the house. Radon is found all through the environment. Yet, when it is concentrated in high levels in the air inside a house or building, it can cause cancer. Specifically, radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer for smokers. It also is the top cause of lung cancer for non-smokers. Overall, radon gas kills about 21,000 people per year via lung cancer. This is even more than drunken driving deaths.

A big problem with radon is that it is invisible and cannot be smelled. It can show up in any type of house — old or new — and it can appear in houses with a basement or a slab foundation.

The EPA estimates that one out of 15 homes in the U.S. have high radon levels, or about 8 million houses.

Radon gas is usually one of the leading environmental concerns that the federal government deals with, and is the top environmental reason for cancer. This is the reason that the U.S. Surgeon General recommends radon testing for all homes. Radon gas is indeed dangerous, and you should follow the advice of the surgeon general.

The EPA has established an action level, at which you should deal with the radon level in your house. The action level is 4 picoCuries per liter of air. However, know that amounts lower than this may not be safe, either. The WHO states that levels higher than 2.7 picoCuries is dangerous. 

The Summer Could Be the Season With the Highest Levels of Radon in the Home

Many homeowners may not be aware that radon levels in their homes can be as much as 10 times higher in the summer as compared to the winter, when the majority of testing for the gas tends to be done. Experts in radon gas say the high variations among seasons is cause for concern about when exactly radon testing should be done in homes and buildings.

Many believe that radon gas levels are often seen as higher during the winter months is because that’s when doors and windows tend to be kept shut all season long, lowering overall ventilation that would otherwise be able to inhibit the accumulation of the gas.

However, in the summer, many homes — especially those with air conditioning — are sealed up just as much as in the winter to keep the hot air out. If that’s the case, radon levels could be even higher compared to the winter.

It is estimated that radon is responsible for the deaths of 5,000 to 20,000 people per year from lung cancer in the U.S.

It is recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that homeowners test their properties for radon both in the winter and summer, just in case.

Indoor radon levels more than four picocuries is considered dangerous, according to the EPA. The correlation between soil and indoor levels isn’t precise. It’s possible that seasonal variations might be caused by the dryness of the soil throughout the summer, thereby allowing the gas to travel more easily.

One thing is for certain: Regular testing should be done to ensure radon levels aren’t dangerously high. And if radon is indeed discovered, it needs to be effectively and thoroughly mitigated by experts in the field.

Reduce Radon Exposure in Your Businesses

As a business owner the last thing you want to worry about is an invisible gas creeping into your store or business where customers and employees visit every day. No one wants to be part of the reason that someone gets lung cancer but, regardless of where you live or where your business is, you need to have radon gas testing completed to determine if you and other people are being exposed to this dangerous and toxic gas.

The allowable amount by the EPA is 4.0 pCi/L; any amount higher than that should have a mitigation system installed. If the radon gas exposure levels are at 4.0 pCi/L or lower, it’s advised to have an air purification system installed for safety’s sake. We offer radon mitigation, a process that reduces radon concentrations, in order to keep your home or business safe from this dangerous gas.

Radon is a toxic gas and is the number-one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and second leading cause of lung cancer in smokers. Radon gas is also radioactive, not visible to the human eye, and it cannot be smelled or tasted.

Each year more than 20,000 Americans die of radon-related lung cancer. Breathing radon gas is more of a health risk than drinking water that contains radon however, both scenarios should be addressed properly. Radon gas has a higher health risk for children than adults, so radon testing is especially important if your business works with children.

For more information and pricing, visit S.W.A.T. Environmental to get your home or business tested for radon gas and reduce your exposure.