What is Radon, where does it come from, what’s its purpose, and how is it harmful?

What is Radon, where does it come from, what’s its purpose, and how is it harmful?

When speaking to the general public, most people are not familiar with radon gas. Sure, it is associated with pesticides or with radiation, as it sounds similar. Although, radon is actually a naturally occurring gas that can be seeping out from underneath your home or business. As a radioactive gas, it can cause long term health effects, such as lung cancer.

What is Radon and how is it harmful

Radon gas is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas. It is not particularly dangerous when breathing it outdoors. The air outside helps the naturally occurring gas disperse on its own. The problem is when radon gas gets trapped indoors. This is when it becomes deadly. Similar to other viruses lingering indoors for long periods of time, the probability is higher as the air circulates less.

When you buy a new home, rent an apartment, or have a new lease on an office, it is vital, and sometimes mandatory, to get a safety inspection. Does that include an air quality test? It should. By hiring our Ohio experts, we can test out the air for radon and other harmful gasses or chemicals. When you breathe in radon over time, it becomes dangerous. So toxic that it can cause lung cancer. In fact, according to the EPA, radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer. On average, 1 in 15 homes contains radon above the EPA’s recommended limit.

If you think you need radon mitigation or a test for your apartment’s radon levels, call the experts in Dayton, Ohio today. Our service area includes Butler County, Warren County, residential areas in Mason, Lebanon, Middletown, West Chester, Liberty Township, and Dayton’s regions. You and your loved ones deserve to sleep with peace of mind. Call us to schedule an appointment: 937-433-5202

Photo Kindly by Photo by Danny Feng on Unsplash.

Professional Radon Services Part of National Action Plan

The Environmental Protection Agency is leading the charge against radon exposure with a national action plan that they released in November of 2015. The plan can be found here: https://www.epa.gov/radon/national-radon-action-plan-strategy-saving-lives

It outlines key steps in how we collectively can combat the threat of the leading environmental cause of lung cancer.

• Build in radon risk reduction. Ideally, this will involve reducing the level of radon during the building phase of construction.
• Provide incentives and support for radon risk reduction. This will focus on making it more attractive and affordable for radon resistant construction, and perhaps provide subsidies to those seeking testing and risk reduction who cannot pay.
• Increase visibility. Naturally, drawing public attention to the dangers of radon exposure is a major part of combating it.
• Test and mitigate using professional services. The EPA promotes the employment of high-quality professional services in providing radon solutions.

As you can imagine, the trusted professionals of Environmental Doctor have been on the front lines of radon mitigation and testing for decades. The EPA has a plan, and we’re here to help enact it.

Radon: Non-Smoker’s Lung Cancer Nightmare

This past January was National Radon Action Month. Did you take action? It’s probably not a good idea to wait until next year if you didn’t. A recent article in the Huffington Post stated that Radon was responsible for 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year. As radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer, behind smoking, you owe it to yourself and your family to prevent it from getting a foothold in your home. The article advised that radon testing can be performed by a certified radon testing professional. Your trusted professionals locally at Environmental Doctor can do just that and we’re just a phone call away!

A Silent Killer: The Second Leading Cause of Lung Cancer in the US

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.”

Periodic Table Element Radon

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.