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Radon
Radon is a colorless and odorless radioactive gas that has been estimated to
cause 5,000 to 20,000 lung cancer deaths yearly. It is second only to smoking as
a cause of lung cancer. It has been estimated that nearly 1 out of every 15
homes in the US has elevated radon levels.
Radon is produced when small amounts of uranium and radium in soil and rocks
decay. Radon gas will also decay into smaller and radioactive particles that can
be inhaled into the lungs where it can damage cells and cause lung cancer.
Radon is mainly released from soil, from water and natural gas exposed to radon,
from solar-heating systems that use radon-emitting rocks, and from uranium or
phosphate mine tailings. Radon is naturally released in low concentrations, but
inside your house, radon gas can become more concentrated. Lack of ventilation
exhaust fans that bring in air from outside can increase the amount of radon in
your home.
The Environmental Protection Agency suggests that homes be tested for radon,
which should have a radon level of 4 picocuries per liter or less.
For people selling their homes, the EPA recommends that the house be tested for
radon, and radon levels be reduced, if necessary. Radon levels can be reduced by
increasing the airflow into the house, keeping the vents open year round, and
discouraging smoking in the house. For people buying homes, the EPA recommends
that radon test results should be obtained, as well as information about any
radon reduction systems.
If you are planning to have your home tested for radon, the EPA recommends that
the test be conducted in the lowest level of the home that is suitable for
occupancy, and you should make sure that the test was done correctly by
following the EPA Test Checklist.
There are two different types of testing devices available: passive devices and
active devices. Passive devices, such as charcoal canisters, alpha track
detectors, and charcoal liquid scintillation devices are exposed to air in the
home for a specified amount of time, and sent to a laboratory to be analyzed.
Active devices, like continuous radon monitors and continuous working level
monitors, continuously measure and record the amount of radon in the air, and
require operation by trained testers. These tests can be performed over a long
term, or a short term, with the long term tests by active devices considered to
be more accurate.
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