| Radon Gas and Cancer |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Lung cancer kills thousands of Americans every
year. It has been stated by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, in their radon information, that
smoking, radon, and second-hand smoke are the
leading causes of lung cancer. In many cases lung
cancer can be prevented; this is especially true for
radon. Radon gas is the number one cause of lung
cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA
estimates. Overall, radon is the second leading
cause of lung cancer. Radon is responsible for
about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. This is
why you need to address radon reduction. It can be
detected with radon test kits.
Radon gas comes from the natural decay of
uranium that is found in nearly all soils in all parts of
the country. This means it is a radioactive gas.
Radon gas typically moves up through the ground
to the air above and into your home through cracks
and other holes in the foundation like exit holes for
drains etc. Your home then traps radon inside,
where it can build up. Any home may have a radon
problem. That includes well-sealed or drafty homes,
and those homes with or without basements. If your
home has a negative pressure relative to the
ground or atmosphere it acts like a mild vacuum
drawing radon in. So one step to radon reduction is
to pressurize the house.
Radon from soil gas is the main cause of radon
problems. Sometimes radon enters the home
through well water. There are many kinds of
low-cost "do-it-yourself" radon test kits you can get
through the mail and in your hardware store and
other retail outlets. If you are buying or selling a
home, or if you just prefer to have an experts
assessment you can hire a qualified tester to do the
testing for you. Contact your about obtaining a list
of qualified testers. Ask for the state radon office the
latest radon information. The quickest way to test is
with short-term tests. Short-term tests remain in
your home for two days to 90 days, depending on
the device. However since radon gas levels vary
from day today it is much more accurate to have
long-term tests. If you are doing a short-term test
lasting just 2 or 3 days, be sure to close your
windows and outside doors at least 12 hours before
beginning the test and keep them closed during the
test period. The test kit should be placed in the
lowest lived-in level of the home. Once you've
finished the test, reseal the package and send it to
the lab specified on the package right away for
analysis Consider fixing your home if the average of
your first and second test is 4 pCi/L or higher.
year. It has been stated by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, in their radon information, that
smoking, radon, and second-hand smoke are the
leading causes of lung cancer. In many cases lung
cancer can be prevented; this is especially true for
radon. Radon gas is the number one cause of lung
cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA
estimates. Overall, radon is the second leading
cause of lung cancer. Radon is responsible for
about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. This is
why you need to address radon reduction. It can be
detected with radon test kits.
Radon gas comes from the natural decay of
uranium that is found in nearly all soils in all parts of
the country. This means it is a radioactive gas.
Radon gas typically moves up through the ground
to the air above and into your home through cracks
and other holes in the foundation like exit holes for
drains etc. Your home then traps radon inside,
where it can build up. Any home may have a radon
problem. That includes well-sealed or drafty homes,
and those homes with or without basements. If your
home has a negative pressure relative to the
ground or atmosphere it acts like a mild vacuum
drawing radon in. So one step to radon reduction is
to pressurize the house.
Radon from soil gas is the main cause of radon
problems. Sometimes radon enters the home
through well water. There are many kinds of
low-cost "do-it-yourself" radon test kits you can get
through the mail and in your hardware store and
other retail outlets. If you are buying or selling a
home, or if you just prefer to have an experts
assessment you can hire a qualified tester to do the
testing for you. Contact your about obtaining a list
of qualified testers. Ask for the state radon office the
latest radon information. The quickest way to test is
with short-term tests. Short-term tests remain in
your home for two days to 90 days, depending on
the device. However since radon gas levels vary
from day today it is much more accurate to have
long-term tests. If you are doing a short-term test
lasting just 2 or 3 days, be sure to close your
windows and outside doors at least 12 hours before
beginning the test and keep them closed during the
test period. The test kit should be placed in the
lowest lived-in level of the home. Once you've
finished the test, reseal the package and send it to
the lab specified on the package right away for
analysis Consider fixing your home if the average of
your first and second test is 4 pCi/L or higher.