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.