Radon
Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless radioactive gas that's formed
during the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. It exits
the ground and can seep into your home through cracks, holes in the
foundation or through well water. It is considered a hazard to health.
Did you
know?
- Radon is
the second leading cause of lung cancer
- Nearly
one in 15 homes in the U.S. has a high level of indoor radon
- The U.S.
Surgeon General and EPA recommend all homes be tested for radon.
- Homes
with high radon levels can be fixed.
The first step in reducing the level of radon in your
home or office involves simple ventilation methods. Contact an
EPA-qualified contractor to advise you or help you with ventilation of
contaminated areas.
Methods of ventilation can include:
- Opening windows.
- Installing vents in basements or crawl spaces.
- Increasing air movement with ceiling fans.
- Venting air outside the house from sump holes or floor drains.
Special care must be taken to avoid bringing more
radon-contaminated soil into the building through the same vents intended
to draw radon out of the building. The balance of air exchange is
important to properly remove radon from the home or office. This is why it
is essential to have a contractor properly trained in radon reduction to
help with ventilation procedures.
Other control methods used to reduce radon include:
- Sealing cracks in the foundation or walls.
- Using air cleaners.
- Replacing the soil in the area.
Once radon reduction or prevention procedures have been
performed, the home or building should be retested. You may need to retest
the home or building more than once until the radon level falls below the
acceptable level of less than 4 pCi/L. Meanwhile, it is usually safe to
continue living in the home or building while the radon is being vented,
but you may want to confirm this with your local EPA office.
References:
Radon: How to Prevent, Reduce or Remove
Environmental
Protection Agency
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