Radon Gas Should You Be Concerned
By Alan C. Grubb - 4U Home, Inc.
There are cracks in the foundation, nothing structural, nothing that is
going to threaten the stability of the home, but they are there. Nooks,
crannies and holes through which seeps an invisible threat. You cannot
smell it. You cannot taste it. In fact, it is undetectable by all your senses,
but if it is in your home, it can be deadly.
Lung cancer is always a disturbing diagnosis. For a patient who has never smoked or had to put up with second-hand smoke, worked with asbestos or knowingly come in contact with radioactive material, such a diagnosis is not only disturbing, but perplexing as well. How can you contract lung cancer if you have avoided all the major risks?
Exposure to radon gas could do it.
Radon gas is a class A carcinogen, which means it has a high potential for causing lung cancer. Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, and is attributed to 21,000 deaths every year according to EPA statistics. That is 8,000 more than drunk driving. But yet there is no MARD, Mothers Against Radon Deaths, in fact most people have no idea if there is Radon in their home.
Radon gas - even the name sounds ominous, evoking images of radiation and nuclear devastation, is created when natural occurring Uranium in the soil decays. The gas in the form of Radon then seeps through any access point into a home. Common entry points are cracks in the foundation, poorly sealed pipes, drainage or any other loose point. Once in the home, the gas will continue to break down into what is referred to as “Radon Decay Products” this is when they become a concern to us. These decay products can be breathed in and stay in the lungs. The Environmental Protection Agency of the US Government has set a threshold of 4 Pico curies per liter as the safe level. As humans are exposed to the gas over a period of years, it can have a significant and detrimental health effect.
How widespread is the problem? Radon has been found in homes in all 50 states. Certain areas are more susceptible than others (http://www.epa.gov/radon/zonemap.html), but no location is immune. In this area, many homeowners have no idea that Howard, Carroll and Frederick Counties are at a higher risk for this deadly gas than most with as many as 1 out of every 2 homes at a level that should be mitigated. Other counties our not as prevalent but they are not exempt either.
Testing for radon comes in two forms: active and passive. Active devises constantly measure the levels of radon in a portion of the home and display those results. Passive devices collect samples over a period of time and then are sent away and analyzed. Either method can help you determine your level of risk. Do-it-yourself kits are available from a number of outlets, normally with passive devices. Over a period of days, the device is left in the lowest level of the home, which is normally occupied under what is referred to as “closed house conditions”. Then the results sent away to be analyzed by a professional lab. Even if these test come back high it is recommended that a longer-term test be conducted before going to mitigation. A qualified Radon testing professional should perform this option. This is also the case when the test is done for a real estate transaction. The EPA web site (http://www.epa.gov/radon/manufact.htm) provides information on finding an appropriate resources and testing devices.
If high concentrations of radon are found in your home, you have several options. Since radon is only a problem when it is concentrated in high volume, improving the ventilation in an area is often sufficient to solve the problem. In other cases, it may be necessary to limit the amount of radon getting into the home by sealing or otherwise obstructing the access points. Once again, a professional should be engaged to ensure that the radon is effectively blocked. Typical radon mitigation systems can cost between $800 and $2500, according to the EPA.
For more information, visit the EPA web site on radon at http://www.epa.gov/radon.
THIS ARTICLE IS PROVIDED 'AS IS' WITH NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. THE AUTHOR, THE SITE OWNER AND ITS AFFILIATES ASSUME NO LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS CONTAINED THEREIN OR FOR ANY USE OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT. The article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice.
Phone: 443-472-0434
www.4uhomeinspection@gmail.com
Alan C. Grubb - 4U Home Inspection
is a Certified Radon measurement professional.
