Health & Fitness
Radon Gas: Know Your Defense
Do you know what radon gas is and where it comes from? Read how radon can affect your health and what you can do about it.
What Exactly Is Radon?
Radon is an odorless, colorless, and radioactive gas. Radon comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. Uranium first breaks down into radium which then disintegrates into radon gas.
How Does Radon Get Into Your Home?
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Radon most often enters a home through cracks in the foundation, slab, or crawl space. Other radon entry points include gaps around pipes and well water. As with most gases, radon rises up through vents and other openings into the rest of your home. Any home can be affected by radon, regardless of its age or physical condition.
How Is Radon Harmful?
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As with most radioactive substances, radon is carcinogenic when inhaled. According to the US Surgeon General, more than 20,000 cases of lung cancer in the United States each year are directly attributed to radon exposure. Though radon is found everywhere, the amount of concentration in a home environment makes it particularly dangerous. Smoking in a home with high radon levels only increases the chances of lung cancer. Smoke is very effective at picking up radon particles from the air and making them available for inhalation.
How Can You Prevent This?
There are no immediate signs that will alert you to the presence of radon in your home. Testing is the only way to know your home's radon levels. Installing a radon mitigation system involves detecting your home’s main radon entry points, sealing up any cracks, and venting as much radon as possible out of the home. Radon mitigation systems can reduce radon levels in your home by up to 99%.