By Diane Griffith, Staff Writer, myOptumHealth
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You may not be able to see it, taste it or smell it, but radon could be lurking in your home.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas found in the soil and rock surrounding a house. It can enter through cracks in the foundation and walls, and openings around pumps and drains. Well water, although less common, can also be an entry point for radon.
What are the health risks?
Radon gas decays into radioactive particles that can get trapped in your lungs when you breathe. As the particles break down, they can damage lung tissue and lead to lung cancer.
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., after smoking. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk for lung cancer is even higher.
The chances of getting lung cancer from radon depend on several factors:
- How much radon is in your home
- The amount of time you spend in your home
- Whether you are a smoker or have ever smoked
It is estimated that 21,000 people die each year from radon-related lung cancer.
How can I tell if I have a radon problem?
Testing is the only way to learn whether radon is present in your home. No immediate symptoms alert you to the presence of radon. And it usually takes years before any problems surface.
How do I test my house?
If your neighbors tell you that they've tested their homes and their radon levels are low, don't let this stop you from testing your own home. Radon levels can vary from area to area, so don't assume all is well.
Testing for radon is simple and inexpensive. Do-it-yourself kits are sold at retail outlets. Make sure you buy one that is EPA-certified.
Short-term tests are the quickest way to gauge radon levels. These devices stay in the home for two to 90 days. To make sure of the reading, you can follow up with another short-term kit and average the two readings.
A long-term device, which stays in the home for 90 days to one year, will give you a reading that is more likely to tell you the home's year-round average radon level.
You may also choose to hire a company to test your home for you. Make sure the company is listed in EPA's Radon Measurement Proficiency Program or certified by your state. Your state radon office and the Radon Helpline can provide a list.
Fixing a radon problem
Repairing a radon problem depends on how the gas gets into the home. Exact costs vary. Options may include:
- Sealing cracks and other openings. This limits the amount of radon that can enter your home. But, normal settling of your home can reopen entry routes over time.
- Radon ventilation system. This system draws radon from the soil beneath your home and routes it away from your home.
- Pressurization. This involves using a fan to create pressure at the lowest levels of the home. This pressure keeps radon from entering. It is used when other measures don't reduce radon levels.
View the original What's the worry with radon? article on myOptumHealth.com
SOURCES:
- American Lung Association. Radon. Accessed: 03/05/2010
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A citizen's guide to radon. Accessed: 03/05/2010
