Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that has no discernible odour or flavour and is produced by the decay of uranium in the earth. The two most common entry points for radon are the foundation of the house and the well water supply. Radon is naturally occurring, although its levels indoors vary greatly from location to location and from home to home. Lung cancer risk is shown to rise at radon concentrations above 0.4 pCi/L. Those who are or have been smokers are at an even greater peril. Extremely professional radon test kit walmart can be found in certain homes while none are found in others. Because of how quickly it disappears, radon gas concentrations in outdoor air are quite low.
Long-term exposure to high radon levels is associated with an increased risk of developing lung cancer in humans. Coughing, wheezing, heavy breathing, and respiratory illnesses including pneumonia and bronchitis are early signs of radon exposure. Sometimes the effects of radon gas exposure aren’t noticed until after a major illness has been diagnosed.
Radon gas levels can be determined through testing, hence this tool is crucial. It is crucial to use a reliable and well-established testing lab. Try to locate a location that has received EPA certification (EPA.) To get the most precise result, you should take the test a minimum of thrice, in different rooms of the house. Many individuals spend a large portion of their time in their homes sleeping, so this room in the house should be one of the test locations. Taking readings in the middle of summer and the middle of winter will give you a reasonable representation of the average readings experienced there throughout the year. If you don’t get your water via the city’s system, you need also send in a sample.
There is no need for alarm if your radon testing results show higher than average levels. Ventilation and water filtration are simple ways to reduce indoor radon levels. Quickly decreasing levels by the installation of fans and air circulation. Some areas of your home are more likely to have elevated amounts than others. Because of their lower elevation from street level, basements can have higher than average water tables.
Unless proper ventilation is implemented, basements should not be used as dwelling space. It is crucial to seal any holes or gaps in the basement floor. To get rid of radon gas in water, all you need is a charcoal filtration system and some good old-fashioned aeration. Companies that specialise in radon mitigation may want to sell you all sorts of expensive equipment to reduce radon levels, but the typical person can accomplish the same goal with just a few common sense strategies.
Dangerous Levels of Radon in the Home
Numerous dangers can be found in every given home, but the vast majority of them are easy to spot. Most people know, for instance, that toaster ovens and other similar devices need constant supervision to prevent fires. Homeowners are cautious of starting electrical fires by turning off appliances like curling irons, ovens, and stove tops.
However, there are some dangers in the house that can only be discovered through expert examination. Typically, gaseous substances are the silent murderers in question. The most well-known of these deadly gases is carbon monoxide, and most modern homes have responded to the concern by adding carbon monoxide detectors. Some jurisdictions even have landlords install these detectors on rented homes. However, there is another potentially lethal gas that receives less attention. The term “radon” is used to describe this gas.
Explain what Radon is
A naturally occurring radioactive gas with no discernible odor or flavour, radon is a mystery to the senses. It is produced as a byproduct of uranium, the primary ingredient in nuclear weapons.
Radon gas can slowly seep into a residence if it is present in the soil below it. There is now conclusive proof of long-term radon exposure to lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, right after tobacco smoke. Nearly 21,000 Americans lose their lives to lung cancer each year because of exposure to radon.
Radiation detection procedures
Radiation detection can be done in a number of ways. Commercially available kits feature collectors meant to be put on the home’s lowest habitable level for anywhere from two to seven days before being shipped off to a lab for analysis. Some have questioned both the accuracy and efficacy of these kits. Even if a radon test indicates that the levels of radon in a home were safe at one point in the year, that may not be the case later in the year. An expert should be contacted to check the level of radon in a residence. The tests provided by experts are more precise and of a higher quality than those provided by laypeople.