Radon is an invisible gas formed in the Earth’s crust. It surrounds every one of us as part of the air we breathe. The rocks and soil beneath our homes contain traces of uranium. Over time, the uranium breaks down and forms other elements. This is called radioactive decay. Radon is one link in the decay chain of uranium.
Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. If considered as a separate disease, lung cancer in people who have never smoked would rank seventh in global cancer mortality. Approximately 21,000 people die from radon-related lung cancer every year in the United States alone.
In the article below, we will go over ten myths about radon that have been busted by the EPA.
Myth 1: Radon testing is difficult, time-consuming and expensive.
Fact: Radon testing is easy. You can test your home yourself or hire a qualified radon test company. Either approach takes only a small amount of time and effort. We recommend performing long-term tests, which take readings for at least 90 days. These are more accurate than short-term kits.
Myth 2: Short-term tests can’t be used for making a decision about whether to fix your home.
Fact: Short-term tests can be used to decide whether to reduce a home’s high radon levels. However, the closer the short-term testing result is to 4 pCi/L (picoCuries per Liter), the less certainty there is about whether the home’s year-round average is above or below that level. Keep in mind that radon levels below 4 pCi/L still pose some risk and that radon levels can be reduced to 2 pCi/L or below in most homes.
Myth 3: Homes with radon problems can’t be fixed.
Fact: There are simple solutions to radon problems in homes. Thousands of homeowners have already fixed radon problems. Most homes can be fixed for about the same cost as other common home repairs. Call Pine Breeze Radon Mitigation for a radon test and install radon mitigation systems to reduce your radon exposure.
Myth 4: Radon affects only certain kinds of homes.
Fact: Radon can be a problem in homes of all types: old homes, new homes, drafty homes, insulated homes, homes with basements, and homes without basements. Local geology, construction materials, and how the home was built are among the factors that can affect radon levels in homes.
Myth 5: Radon is only a problem in certain parts of the country.
Fact: High radon levels have been found in every state. Radon problems do vary from area to area, but the only way to know your radon level is to test.
Myth 6: A neighbor’s test result is a good indication of whether you have a problem.
Fact: It’s not. Radon levels can vary greatly from home to home. The only way to know if your home has a radon problem is to test it.
Myth 7: Everyone should test their water for radon.
Fact: While radon gets into some homes through water, it is important to first test the air in the home for radon. If your water comes from a public water supply that uses groundwater, call your water supplier. If high radon levels are found and the home has a private well, call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791 for information on testing your water.
Myth 8: It’s difficult to sell homes where radon problems have been discovered.
Fact: Where radon problems have been fixed, home sales have not been blocked. The added protection is sometimes a good selling point.
Myth 9: I’ve lived in my home for so long, it doesn’t make sense to take action now.
Fact: You will reduce your risk of lung cancer when you reduce radon levels, even if you’ve lived with an elevated radon level for a long time.
Contact Pine Breeze Radon Mitigation
The Pine Breeze Radon Mitigation team understands radon poisoning risks due to exposure to high radon gas levels.
If you think you have any symptoms of radon poisoning, there is no better time than now to have your home tested.
If your home has an elevated radon level, you and your family could be at risk of developing lung cancer.
Pine Breeze Radon Mitigation can test your home.
If your radon levels come back high, we can install a radon mitigation system to lower the radon levels in your home.
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