A radioactive gas that forms during the natural reaction of uranium, thorium, or radium with rocks, soil, and water is radon. It is an entirely colorless, tasteless, and odorless gas that enters your body through the air you breathe in. It is incredibly harmful to your health. If you feel that high radon levels cover your house, quickly reach out to a professional radon removal company.
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Why are High Radon Levels Risky?
Over-consumption of radon leads to lung cancer. In the United States, people have lung cancer due to radon, the secondary cause after smoking. Hence, if your home has high radon levels and you smoke frequently, you might develop lung cancer.
Radioactive elements are responsible for emitting radiations that can destroy the living tissues in your body and lead to cancer.
Where Can You Find Radon?
Wherever you see rocks and soil, there will be radon. All types of rocks and soil contain uranium which gives rise to radon formation.
Health risks depend on the levels of the gas present. Usually, you can find radon at places where ventilation is insufficient, like in underground mines. Most of the time, you can observe high radon levels in buildings like a workplace, a school, or your home also.
But, how does radon enter such places? The cracks and holes in the foundation of your house makes room for radon to come up. It gets trapped inside those gaps and then starts building. When this gas mixes with air, it enters into your body. In fact, your well water can also be a source of radon in your house. Radon is natural gas; therefore, you will always be exposed to it.
There is no specification for a home to get trapped by radon. But there are chances of high random levels at houses that are:
- entirely insulated
- compactly sealed, and
- located at areas with uranium, thorium, and radium in the soil
How to Differentiate Between Low and High Radon Levels?
You cannot get rid of radon, as it is everywhere. It comes up naturally from earth to your homes. The extent of risk depends on the levels of radon you are exposed to. What are those levels?
Low Levels of Radon
Radon indeed poses a serious threat to your health but at specific levels. We measure Radon in becquerels per cubic meter of air or Bq m-3. Radon levels below 100 Bq m-3 are considered as low radon levels. Such radon does not cause any serious health concerns. Radon is not generally a health issue, but as the level of gas increases, the risk also increases. The average level of radon exposure in UK homes is 20 Bq m-3.
High Levels of Radon
If radon levels are equal to more than 149 Bq m-3, you need a mitigation team as per the guidance of the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency of the United States). The risk of high radon levels gets even worse when you smoke or work and live at places near to nuclear power stations.
Test your House to Reduce High Radon Levels
You cannot expect your house to be safe without a radon test. Perform a radon test yourself, now.
- Get yourself a radon test kit to carry out the procedure
- Place the measuring device in your home or office
- For a short-term test, it takes a few days to 90 days and for a long-term test more than 90 days
- Try to take a more extended test to get accurate results
- When the test is complete pack the device as per the instructions
- Send the kit for analysis and know your house radon levels
Take care of your house if it has high radon levels. Seal all the cracks and openings in the foundation to prevent radon from entering your home.
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