If you believe that there may be radon present in or near your home, it’s important to contact a residential radon testing service as soon as possible. Radon, which is a toxic, odorless gas, can only be detected and treated by a qualified contractor using specialized equipment.
The Prevalence of Radon Throughout the United States
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) reports that approximately 1 out of every 15 homes within this country have amounts of this gas that are either at or exceed their action levels. The US EPA also indicates that almost 1 out of every 3 homes on Indian lands located in 7 states have levels that exceed action levels. Their findings showed that these areas had over 4 pCi/L, which is the recommended exposure action level.
The Link Between Radon and Lung Cancer
As previously stated, radon is a toxic gas. When people are exposed to this gas, they have an increased chance of developing lung cancer. In the United States, radon is known to be the second leading cause of lung cancer, according to the Surgeon General.
Lowering the Incidence of Lung Cancer Deaths
When radon levels exceed the EPA’s action level, the chances of lung cancer deaths increase. Scientific estimations show that 2 % to 4% of these deaths could be avoided by decreasing radon levels in homes that exceed the EPA’s action levels. By their estimation, this could amount to saving approximately 5,000 lives.
Radon Mitigation and Abatement
In order to determine radon levels, there are 2 types of tests and detectors used for this purpose. While it does depend on the specific device being used, a short-term detector will usually measure levels for 2 days to 90 days. A long-term test will last over 90 days, and is used to measure the average concentration of radon.
It’s been demonstrated that Indoor radon levels have been reduced by over 50% with passive mitigation systems. When passive systems are used in conjunction with ventilation fans, these levels may be further reduced.