Radon gas exposure is one of the most widespread health hazards in the American home. What makes it even worse than many harmful household chemicals and dust build-up is that it’s much harder to detect. This odorless, tasteless and colorless naturally occurring chemical can go undetected for years, causing short-term side-effects and even increasing your risk for developing lung cancer. Whether or not you suspect your home has radon gas, it’s imperative to get a check-up as soon as possible. A residential radon testing service can determine the safety of your home and surroundings.
Indoor Air Pollution In America
A common misconception is that outdoor air pollution is worse than indoor air pollution. The fact of the matter, however, is much different. Many household chemicals are linked to higher rates of cancer and some air conditioning systems are poor at filtering day-to-day irritants such as pollen, mold, dander, dirt and smoke. Even more notably is that of radon gas. It’s estimated one out of every 15 American homes has above the recommended amount of radon gas exposure, meaning millions of people are constantly exposed to this deadly substance.
The Short-Term Effects Of Radon Gas
There are short-term effects of radon gas in your home. Unexplained dizziness, difficulty breathing, nausea and watering eyes are likely signs there are harmful irritants in your air. To know for sure, however, it is imperative you seek out and hire a residential radon testing service. A radon mitigation and abatement service can then be provided if it’s discovered your home has above the EPA’s recommended action level. Short-term detectors can measure radon levels for two to 90 days, depending on both the device used and the amount detected.
The Long-Term Effects Of Radon Gas
Radon gas left unchecked can lead to a rise in lung cancer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as well as the Surgeon General’s Office have recently estimated as many as 20,000 lung cancer deaths are caused by radon gas exposure alone. Additional information provided over the past few years has seen one in three homes across seven states and three Indian lands testing positive for radon exposure. A family whose home has radon levels of just 4 pCi/L will have 35 times as much radiation if they were standing by a radioactive waste site.
Reducing Radon Gas In The Home
If your home has above the EPA’s recommended action level of radon gas, the next step is to allow an abatement service to reduce these chemicals over the course of a few days to a few months. One of the most common and effective ways of whittling down the amount of radon gas is through advanced ventilation fans. These can reduce indoor radon levels by as much as 50%. When you consider that the risk of lung cancer increases by 15% per 100 Bq/m in long-time average radon concentration, every little bit helps.
Contacting A Radon Abatement Service
Every home should have a residential radon testing service visit. With radon gas exposure on the rise and lung cancer deaths increasing, the best way of ensuring the safety of your family is to nip this problem in the bud. Scientists and doctors have estimated that lung cancer deaths could be reduced by up to 4% by targeting radon gas. That’s as many as 5,000 people saved per year. Let a radon mitigation and abatement service analyze your home and clear out this harmful chemical this year. You could be saving a life.
