You can't see radon. And you can't smell it or taste it. But it may be a problem in your home. Radon
is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year. That's
because when you breath air containing radon, you get lung cancer. In
fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading
cause of lung cancer in the United Sates today. Only smoking causes
more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.
Radon can be found all over the U.S.
Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water and gets into the air you breath. Radon can be found all over the United States. It can get into any type of building-homes, offices, and schools-and result in a high indoor radon level. But you and your family are most likely to get your greatest exposure at home, where you spend most of your time.
How to test for radon.
Testing
is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon.
EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing in all homes below the
third floor for radon. EPA also recommends testing in schools. Testing is inexpensive and easy-it should only take a few minute of your time.
How to fix a radon problem.
Radon
reduction systems work and they are not too costly. Some radon
reduction systems can reduce radon levels in your home up to 99%. Even
very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels.
Radon Resistant New Construction (RRNC).
Radon
resistant construction techniques can be effective in preventing radon
entry. When installed properly, and completely, these simple and
inexpensive techniques can help reduce indoor radon levels in homes. In
addition, installing them at the time of construction makes it easier
and less expensive to reduce radon levels further if these passive
techniques don't reduce radon levels below 4pCi/L. Every new home
should be tested after occupancy, even if it was built radon-resistant.
If radon levels are still in excess of 4pCi/L, the passive system
should be activated by having a qualified mitigator install a vent fan.
For more explanation of radon resistant construction techniques, refer
to EPA publication, Building Radon Out: A Step-by-Step Guide on how to build Radon Resistant Homes.
For more info, go to
PuebloCARES,301 N Main St., Ste. 101 Pueblo, CO. 81003; Phone#(719) 214-9215
