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Radon is a radioactive element that is part of the radioactive decay chain of naturally occurring uranium in soil. Radon gas from soil can enter buildings through gaps and cracks in the foundation or through crawl spaces.
According to the EPA, studies find direct evidence linking radon in homes to lung cancer.
It is especially dangerous because you can’t see it, smell it or taste it. Unlike carbon monoxide and many other home pollutants, radon’s adverse health effects occur over time with frequent exposure to high levels of radon gas.
The EPA has determined that concentrations of more 4.0 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L) represent a serious health risk. The risk of developing lung cancer above 4.0 pCi/L is estimated at about 7 lung cancer deaths per 1000 persons.
Bi-annually radon gas testing is highly recommended and can often save lives.
When radon test results reveal radon levels higher than 4.0 (pCiL), radon mitigation is highly recommended. In WV, radon mitigation must be done by a state licensed professional.
Lung cancer in humans resulting from radon exposure is recognized by the following health and environmental organizations
Radon is a chemical element with an assigned symbol of Rn and the atomic number 86. It is a radioactive, colorless, odorless, tasteless gas, occurring naturally as an indirect decay product of uranium or thorium. Its most stable isotope, 222Rn, has a half-life of 3.8 days.
Radon is one of the densest substances that will remain a gas under normal conditions. It is also the only gas that contains radioactive isotopes and is considered a health hazard.
Radon gas is generated in rock and soil and creeps up through cracks or spaces between particles. Outdoor concentrations of radon are typically safe at about 0.4 picocuries per liter (pCi/l) of air. When radon gas seeps into poorly ventilated buildings through foundation cracks or openings, it can rapidly accumulate leading to unhealthy indoor air quality and serious health risks.
A Sub-Membrane Depressurization (SMD) may be required for crawl spaces and other areas where the slab is in direct contact with the rock and soil. With the SMD method, a plastic sheet (Polyethylene or similar) is permanently installed over exposed rock and soil. A fan is then installed to create suction under the plastic sheeting, drawing the vapors out from the soil into a PVC pipe, then safely exhausted away from the home, minimizing vapors from entering the ambient indoor air, similar to the SSD method.
Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. For smokers, the risk of developing lung cancer is dramatically increased when exposed to even moderate concentrations of radon gas. According to the Surgeon General, not enough citizens are aware of the dangers or consider themselves at risk. Over the past decade, the EPA and dozens of other organizations including the American Lung Association, have escalated public awareness campaigns to educate both adults and children to the health risks associated with radon gas.
According to the EPA, studies find direct evidence linking radon in homes to lung cancer – Two studies show definitive evidence of an association between residential radon exposure and lung cancer. Two studies, a North American study, and a European study, both combined data from several previous residential studies. These two studies go a step beyond earlier findings.
The following charts demonstrate the potential of developing lung cancer due to, progressive, cumulative exposure to radon gas, both for smokers and non-smokers. You can see on the following diagram that smoking, combined with radon gas exposure can dramatically increases the risk of lung cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, just mentioning radon to most people, will result in a blank stare. But mention lung cancer, and you’ve got their attention! What most people don’t know is that exposure to radon, an invisible odorless gas, is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. The good news is that a simple test can tell you if you need to take steps to reduce the risk to yourself and your family. January is a perfect time to test your home.
Radon, a radioactive gas from the soil and rock beneath many homes, keeps itself well hidden. You can’t see it, smell it or taste it, but according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S. are radon-related.
The American Lung Association position regarding Radon – It’s a killer. The killer is the colorless, tasteless and odorless gas, radon, which causes an estimated 20,000 deaths from lung cancer each year. Radon is emitted from the ground and enters a home through cracks in walls, basements, floors and other openings. Only smoking causes more lung cancer. That invisible threat is why the American Lung Association applauded the recent announcement by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that it is taking steps to protect families from exposure to this dangerous culprit.
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Vet Owned Radon offers the following Services:
Residential Radon Mitigation
Expedited Mitigation for Real Estate Closings
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