Radon is generally not the foremost item on most people’s minds. With kids, work, friends and life in general taking up most of our time and attention, radon concerns slip to wayside. You may not realize it, but your home could have dangerous levels of radon gas in it right at this moment. “Any radon exposure has some risk of causing lung cancer,” the EPA said in a statement. “The lower the radon level in your home, the lower your family’s risk of lung cancer.”
Radon gas occurs naturally with the decomposition of radium, which is part of the uranium decay process. Radon has a half-life of 3.82 days and during this decay process, it produces particles called radon daughters. The radon daughters in turn emit alpha particles into the lungs of people in afflicted homes. The particles can penetrate cells and cause DNA damage.
President of Environmental Doctor, Brenden Gitzinger warns that “it’s not a danger that manifests itself overnight. Radon’s deceit is in its invisibility. You can’t see, taste or smell it, but over years it continues to permeate our bodies and cause damage.”
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, preceded only by smoking.
Radon gas leads to the lung cancer deaths of more than 20,000 Americans each year. Though primarily linked to lung cancer, radon can also contribute to childhood leukemia and pancreatic cancer. The Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Surgeon General recommend that owners take the time to test radon levels of their homes and businesses. The testing process is relatively simple and inexpensive, with effective and affordable solutions if high radon levels are found.
The EPA currently recommends action be taken when Radon levels within homes reach 4 pCi/L, or higher. Recently though, the World Health Organization suggested a reference level of 2.7 pCi/L for radon levels, meaning that even if levels are below the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L, there is still the possibility of danger.
Visit the Environmental Protection Agency or Environmental Doctor for more information on radon and the dangers they pose to home and business owners. With over 20 years of experience at making homes and businesses safe from environmental problems, Environmental Doctor in Dayton, Ohio can provide effective and affordable solutions for radon testing and mitigation.