Radon is invisible and odorless, and many people are not even aware that it poses a risk of cancer and other illnesses. Pennsylvania's a hot spot for radon, which can cause lung cancer at high levels. Radon is estimated to cause about 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year, according to the EPA’s 2003 Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes (EPA 402-R-03-003). Radon gas is measured in picocuries per liter (pCi/L), and the EPA recommends radon mitigation for all homes with radon gas levels of 4 pCi/L or higher. You cannot see radon gas. Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally and isn’t caused by chemicals or the home itself. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, radon contamination causes nearly 20,000 deaths a year. Radon, chemical element, a heavy radioactive gas of Group 18 (noble gases) of the periodic table, generated by the radioactive decay of radium. How Does Radon Get Into a Home? However, the movement in the air is just enough in the removal of some of the radon decay. Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the soil. Any home, whether new, old, well-sealed, drafty, with a basement, with a crawl space or with a concrete slab foundation is at risk. Radon poisoning occurs when large amounts enter the body and cause harmful physical changes. Since radon is a gas, it can move through concrete slabs. How does radon get into the house? What doesn’t help, is that pressure differentials from temperature, weather, and building mechanical systems (ventilation and exhaust), can help draw in more radon gas. It is a colorless gas, 7.5 times heavier than air and more than 100 times heavier than hydrogen. Because radon comes from the ground, the highest radon levels can often be found on a home’s ground floor or basement. Radon gas is odorless, colorless. A radon test is the only way to know how much radon is in your home. The radon company helps Missouri and Arkansas homeowners get rid of radon gas. Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up. Radon is odorless, colorless, and tasteless; it is an inert noble gas. However, radon may permeate easier through gravel beds. Radon forms when uranium, thorium, or radium break down in water, rocks, and soil, releasing radon gas into the dirt beneath your home, according to … But it may be a problem in your home. How does radon gas get into my house? Fracking involves high-pressure injection of water into shale rock to get the natural gas out. Nearly one out of every 15 homes has a radon level the EPA considers to be elevated-4 pCi/L or greater. About Radon. Radon from soil gas is the main cause of radon problems, though, sometimes radon may enter from well water. Radon in the basement can quickly become dangerous, as radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. How does radon gas get in? In most cases, radon entering the home through water is a small risk compared with radon entering your home from the soil. For homes with a basement, radon can enter through floor-to-wall joints, control joints and cracks in the slab. According to the EPA, 1 out of every 15 U.S. homes has radon levels above the recommended guideline of 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) and it is recommended that all homes should test for radon, regardless of geographic location. As the only gas in the decay chains of radioactive heavy metals, radon and its floating radioactive products can easily get into human body by … How Does Radon Get into Your Home? Homes with a Basement. It’s produced when uranium, thorium, and radium break down in soil, rock, and water. The radon gas moves from the soil into a home. In a house with forced air heating and cooling, radon gas can easily be distributed throughout the entire dwelling. If you have well water sourced from an aquifer, there is a chance the water contains radon. Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Radon and other gases rise through the soil and get trapped under the building. Homes with a Crawlspace. Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally when the uranium in soil and rock breaks down. Radon tests are divided into short-term tests (less than 90 days, typically 2 to 7 days) and long-term tests, which is anything from 3 to 12 months. Therefore, the lower pressure of the building draws gases through floors and walls and into the building. The only way to get rid of radon is through radon mitigation. Radon can be found all over the United States and can get into any building such as homes, offices, schools, day-cares, etc. The problem occurs when radon gas enters your home and gets trapped. Elevated levels of radon have been found in homes all across the country. This may damage the cells in the lining of the lungs and increase a person's risk of lung cancer. The only way to know if you have radon in your home is to have your home tested, either through a mail-in kit or by a professional. Homes with elevated levels of radon have been found in all three zones. WHAT IS RADON MITIGATION Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, and the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Radon can enter the home through cracks in floors or walls, construction joints, gaps in floors or around pipes, wall cavities, and through the water supply. With any active depressurization system installed in your home, it is recommended to make sure that its operation does not cause a back-drafting condition from combustion appliances such as your furnace, water heater, fireplace, or wood stove. The radon particles release energy that can damage the cells in your lungs. If you want to use ceiling fans to tackle a radon decay gas issue, then you must install the fan in a central location. Radon gas moves from the soil into a home. All homes should be tested for radon, regardless of zone designation. A carcinogen is a cancer-causing agent present in the gas. Radon is produced as the metal radium naturally decays, and the gas emissions rise from the bedrock and soil. Radon from soil gas is the main cause of radon problems. So just how does radon get in your home? How Radon Gas Sneaks into Homes Radon is Found in Homes all Over the U.S. Radon is an invisible and odorless radioactive gas. When radon is released from the ground into the outdoor air, it is diluted and is not a concern. Radon is created as part of the decay process of uranium. The radon gas is radioactive, making it a cancer-causing gas. In a small number of homes, the building materials (e.g., granite and certain concrete products) can give off radon, although building materials rarely cause radon problems by themselves. Radon Gas is the Most Potent Carcinogen in your Home. Radon gas leaves the soil and becomes part of the air and water. Homes on a Slab Any home in any state may have a radon problem: new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements. Some soils contain uranium, which decomposes over time and produces radio and polonium. The radon gas moves from the soil into a home. Occasionally, passive sumps without a fan may reduce radon levels. Contamination is simply the presence of an unwanted material in or on some other object or substance. Radon is widespread in homes in the United States – on average, 1 of every 15 homes have radon levels that are higher than the recommended action levels. However, building materials rarely cause radon problems by themselves. 5. Now that we’ve identified radon entry points, you may be wondering how radon enters your home from the … Sometimes radon enters the home through well water. The highest concentration of the gas is mostly found on the first floor or in the basement. The Movement of Radon Gas. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. Test your home again if you start living on a lower level (for example, if you turn your basement into a home office or extra bedroom). Think of radon like a ninja that’s trying to break into your home – it can enter through multiple routes (and most often, the basement). How Does Radon Get Into My Home? Any house, of any age, in any state, can have elevated radon levels, the EPA warns. The emission levels can vary greatly depending on the local geology. Radon is a radioactive gas. The first is through the soil or rock that is under or surrounding your house. How Does Radon Get Into A Home or Building? And you cannot smell it or taste it. HOW CAN RADON GAS GET INTO MY HOME? How does radon get into my clients’ homes, anyway? Get a Discounted Radon Test ; How Radon Enters Your Home. When uranium decays, it turns into another metal called radium. How Does Radon Get Into Homes? Radon in Properties. When someone breathes in radon gas, it goes into their lungs, exposing them to small amounts of radiation. Radon gas is composed of radioactive particles that, when breathed in, damage the cells lining your lungs, increasing your risk of developing lung cancer. Radon cannot be smelled, taste, or seen. Radon is a radioactive gas that you cannot see, smell or taste and can get into your home undetected. Other potential entry points that explain how radon gas gets into homes include mortar joints, floor-wall joints, and loose-fitting pipe penetrations. And it is being continually replenished. Radon is odorless, colorless, and tasteless; it is an inert noble gas. In a small number of homes, the building materials can give off radon, too. It occurs in several various forms, the most prevalent being radon-222. It may find its way into homes easier through crawlspaces, foundation cracks and openings, and water sources. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that results from the decay of Uranium which is found in certain types of soil and bedrock. Sumps work best under solid floors and under suspended floors if the ground is covered with concrete or a membrane. Since radon gas is a product of rock and soil breakdown, radon usually enters your home from basement levels. Regarding rain entry, the fan is designed to take it. Radon gas enters homes through dirt floors, cracks in concrete walls and floors, floor drains, and sumps. Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water and finds its way into homes through cracks and holes in the foundation, construction joints, and plumbing fixtures. This gas can seep into the house from through cracks and fissures from the basement if a house is built at such sites. Over time, these radioactive particles increase the risk of lung cancer. In outdoor air, radon gas is diluted to harmless levels. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking and the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers. It may take years before health problems appear. In the U.S, one of every 15 homes are found to have high level radon gas. As a matter of fact, homes built on a slab to not have the ‘buffer’ of a basement or crawl space to absorb and dissipate radon gas before it enters the living area of a home. How Does Radon Get Into Your Home? Problems occur when radon gas enters your home and gets trapped. If you do this, test for radon again in a few months to see how effective the system is for reducing radon levels. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation.
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