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Radon and your health: Check these important details!

Protect Yourself and Your Family from Radon | NCEH | CDC

Can a radioactive gas seep through your building foundation & walls and cause health problems? The short answer is yes. This is not some apocalyptic situation but a genuine concern for homeowners in the US. Radon is a colorless & odorless gas, which is produced due to the decay of uranium. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. A person exposed to this radioactive gas may not show immediate symptoms, but in the long run, radon exposure can cause lung damage and possibly, lung cancer. You can learn more by clicking here about radon testing. 

Should you worry about radon?

Radon is produced because of uranium decay in the soil, and because it has comparatively low density, it is forced out from the bedrock into the environment. Radon can seep through the foundation cracks, other gaps & cavities in the building, increasing gas levels inside the house. When ingested or inhaled, radon can turn decay into radioactive particles, which can lead to lung damage. You should worry about radon because long-term exposure can be fatal. 

How to detect radon in the house?

There are affordable home-testing kits available for radon testing. A better alternative would be to call the professionals from a radon mitigation service. Home-testing kits are accurate, but you are more likely to have a better picture with a skilled team of experts. 

What are the best radon mitigation options?

The simplest approach to radon mitigation is to check and seal all gaps, cracks, and cavities in the building, followed by the installation of an active sub-slab depressurization. An active sub-slab depressurization, simply called ASSD, involves a suction vent pipe into the soil above the roof. An exhaust fan works around the clock, pushing radon from the soil to the vent on the roof or attic. This allows the gas to dissipate without getting trapped in the building. Installation of ASSD may cost more if more vent pipes are being installed. A Passive sub-slab depressurization (PSSD) system can be considered too, which doesn’t use an exhaust fan but relies on the natural flow of gas. 

When it comes to radon mitigation and solutions, it is best to rely on an expert for the job. The cost of installing a radon mitigation system depends on the work involved, but you can always get an estimate in advance. 

Oscar Jude Thompson: Oscar, a home renovation contractor, shares DIY project guides, renovation tips, and ideas for transforming homes.