Our coldest months of the year are upon us, and we’re all
scrambling to stay warm. Since our doors
and windows remain closed against the cold, it’s the perfect time of year to
get an accurate result from a radon test of your home. Approximately 1 out of 15 homes in the
United States has increased levels of radon.
Testing is the only way to know if your home has a problem.
What is radon?
Radon is a colorless, tasteless and odorless gas that causes lung
cancer. Radon can build up to dangerous levels inside homes, schools and other
buildings. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the
United States, after smoking.
Radon gas occurs naturally. It forms when uranium breaks down to
radium, which in turn breaks down to form radon. As radon decays, it releases
radioactive byproducts that are inhaled and can cause lung cancer.
Radon-related lung cancers are responsible for an estimated 21,000 deaths
annually in the United States.
How does it get in my home?
Radon is emitted from the ground and enters a home through cracks in
walls, basement floors, foundations and other openings. Because radon comes
from rock and soil, it can be found anywhere. Exposure to limited
concentrations, like those found outdoors, is impossible to avoid. However,
when radon gets trapped indoors, it may build up to dangerous concentrations.
The most important source of radon gas indoors is the soil and rock
surrounding the building. By sealing your home to keep radon from getting
through cracks and openings, you can significantly reduce your home's radon
levels.
Less frequently, radon may enter buildings from radon-contaminated
drinking water used in bathroom showers and sprays, though this occurs only
when the water comes from a private well. More recently, concerns have been
raised about the radon released indoors from granite countertops or tiles.
However, these sources are rarely a problem by themselves.
Radon is not known to cause asthma or any other type of respiratory
distress. Radon can be tested and measured (in picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of
air) and there are estimated risks to health from the exposure depending on the
concentration. DHSS in conjunction with EPA recommends that if the
concentration of radon is 4 pCi/L or greater, then remediation should be done
to lower risks. Smoking in conjunction with radon exposure greatly increases
the risk of cancer.
What Can I Do?
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services offers FREE
Radon Testing kits by request. We have
paper copies of the request here at the health center, or you can go online and
order a kit here: https://health.mo.gov/living/environment/radon/testkit.php or visit www.health.mo.gov
and search “Radon Testing Kit.” The
test kit comes with instructions, but if you need help, please feel free to
contact me at 660-646-5506.
If you find you have a radon problem, and want to fix the problem;
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has a list of
mitigation specialists qualified to install mitigation systems in your home.
The cost can range from $500 to $2500 depending on the size and construction of
the home. Lists of mitigation specialists can also be obtained from the
National Radon Safety Board (NSRB) and National Environmental Health
Association (NEHA) websites. They are www.nrsb.org and www.radongas.org
respectively.
Sources: US Environmental Protection Agency, American Lung
Association, Missouri Department of Health
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