January is National Radon Action Month and serves as an important reminder to have your home or business tested to reduce the dangers. The focus of this month is to increase public awareness about radon, encourage radon testing and mitigation, and advance the use of radon-resistant practices in new construction.
Radon is an invisible, odorless gas that not only affects homes, but also schools, the workplace, restaurants, and all commercial real estate. If left undetected, it can lead to an unsafe level of gas that requires mitigation. Here are five key facts about radon you need to know:
FACT #1: Radon has been linked to lung cancer.
Long-term exposure to high levels of radon can increase the risk of developing lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of this type of cancer after smoking. Research over four decades has shown the clear link between radon and lung cancer. In fact, approximately 22,000 lung cancer deaths are linked to radon gas omissions per year.
The connection between radon and lung cancer was first noticed in uranium miners who worked in enclosed areas for long periods of time and suffered serious health effects. That’s why experts started to study radon exposure and realized it was a serious issue. Radon naturally comes from the deterioration of uranium.
FACT #2: You must test for radon – there are no visible signs.
It’s impossible to tell if your home has unsafe levels of radon without testing. And it could be years before you realize that you’ve been exposed to dangerous radon levels. It can become trapped inside buildings and radon levels will continue to increase. The use of special equipment is the only way to detect radon.
FACT #3: Radon enters your home through the soil.
Radon gas exposure comes from almost all soils and bedrock under a home or building. The gas gets trapped underneath and develops over time. Radon can enter undetected through cracks and openings in basement floors, crawl spaces, drains, sump pumps, and exposed soil.
FACT #4: Radon can build up anywhere.
Radon is in every home or building. From old to new homes and businesses to those with basements and without. And all homes and buildings need to be tested no matter where they’re located — radon can be found all over and not only in certain areas or regions.
Testing is the only way to determine the radon gas level and if mitigation is necessary to reduce the concentration dangers.
FACT #5: Radon testing is the best way to protect your health.
Prolonged inhalation of radon gas can damage the cells that line your lungs. That’s due to the small radioactive particles that are inhaled when radon is present. It’s the long-term exposure to these particles that has proven be a health risk and can lead to cancer.
The best way to protect your health is to know the symptoms and through professional radon testing. Symptoms of radon poisoning include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Persistent cough
- Tightness in chest
- Trouble swallowing
- Wheezing
When should you test for radon?
Test your home or business for radon if you’ve never tested before. After that, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that you test for radon every two years since it can be hazardous to your health. That’s even if your home has a radon mitigation system because, like any appliance, it could stop working effectively.
Do-it-yourself radon test kits can be expensive, limited in scope, and often require extended wait times and mail-in samples. Professional radon testing is a simple and inexpensive way to keep you, your family, employees, customers, and clients both healthy and safe.
Trust the Pros at AmeriSpec for Exceptional Radon Testing Services
AmeriSpec’s trained experts use cutting-edge equipment and techniques to identify and reduce radon levels to ensure your confidence in the safety of your home or business. You can trust us to deliver exceptional radon testing and inspection services for total peace of mind.
Our experienced professionals are the market leaders in specialized skills and knowledge to ensure the best radon testing and most accurate results.
Many certified inspectors in AmeriSpec’s coast-to-coast network of superior professional inspectors can test for radon in your home or business.
Reach out to us today!