Do I need to worry about radon?

You cannot see, smell, or taste radon. But it still may be a problem in your home. When you breathe air containing radon, you increase your risk of getting lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General of the United States has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today.

Where is radon most commonly found?

Radon gas is a ubiquitous element found in rock and soil. The burning of coal and other fossil fuels also releases radon. When radon escapes from soil or is discharged from emission stacks to the outdoor air, it is diluted to levels that are normally, but not always, lower than indoor air.

What time of year are radon levels highest?

The reason that radon levels in the home can be higher in the summer and winter is two-fold. During the winter, the air in your home tends to be much warmer than the outside air, and this temperature difference creates a vacuum within your home.

How long does it take for radon to affect you?

Radon gas can damage cells in your lungs, which can lead to cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States, though it usually takes 5 to 25 years to develop.

Should I walk away from a house with radon?

Radon-related deaths are due to exposure over the course of a lifetime. “You should definitely take it seriously but you really don’t need to walk away from the home. It’s actually pretty easy to remove radon, and it’s not that expensive,” Consumer Reports Home Editor Paul Hope said.

Is it OK to live in a house with radon?

However, because radon isn’t safe at any level, they also suggest treating homes with radon levels between 2 and 4 pCi/L. According to the EPA, the average radon gas concentration in a home is about 1.3 pCi/L, which does not pose an appreciable risk to most residents living in the house.

How do I make my house safe from radon?

An active radon sump, fitted with a fan, is the most effective way to reduce indoor radon levels. Sumps work best under solid floors and under suspended floors if the ground is covered with concrete or a membrane. Occasionally, passive sumps without a fan may reduce radon levels.

How can you tell if radon is in your home?

You can hire a professional tester or do it yourself with a kit you buy at a hardware store or online. Follow the instructions for leaving the kit in your house for the required number of days. Then mail it to a lab and wait for the results. If radon levels in your home are high, you can take steps to lower them.

How often should you check for radon?

every two years

If you’re wondering how often you should test for radon, here are the facts. To provide peace of mind, 2the EPA recommends testing your home after any lifestyle changes, renovations and every two years as part of routine home maintenance.

What are the first signs of radon poisoning?

A persistent cough could be a sign that you have radon poisoning.

  • Persistent cough.
  • Hoarseness.
  • Wheezing.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Coughing up blood.
  • Chest pain.
  • Frequent infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.
  • Loss of appetite.

Does opening windows reduce radon?

As a temporary solution, however, you can reduce radon levels simply by opening windows. Opening windows improves air circulation and ventilation, helping move radon out of the house and mixing radon-free outside air with indoor air. Make sure all your basement windows are open.

Do air purifiers help with radon?

Air Purifiers are great for mold, dust, allergies, bacteria and viruses, and odors, but many people do not know that they can also help with toxins, gases and chemicals such as radon. The most important type of air filter to reduce radon levels is an activated carbon filter.

Is 7 a high radon level?

Radon levels are measured in picocuries per liter, or pCi/L. Levels of 4 pCi/L or higher are considered hazardous. Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk and in many cases can be reduced, although it is difficult to reduce levels below 2 pCi/L.

What is the highest radon reading?

According to the EPA, the maximum “acceptable” level of radon is 4.0 pCi/L, but even that level is not “safe”, per se. The EPA strongly recommends you consider radon mitigation between levels 2.0 and 4.0.

Will radon give you a headache?

Radon does not cause any warning symptoms like headaches, nausea, fatigue, or skin rashes. If you are suffering from those symptoms or other physical ailments, you should consult your physician. You should still test your home for radon.

Can dogs get radon poisoning?

You may not know that your pet has radon poisoning until they start showing cancer-related symptoms, such as fever, abnormal swellings, coughing and lack of appetite, excessive throwing up, lameness, and breathing difficulties.

How do you detox from radon?

There are no known methods for reducing the toxic effects of radon once you are exposed; however, there are some foods and supplements that can help you to detoxify your body and protect you from the harmful effects of radiation, including glutathione, chlorophyll and spirulina.

Does radon cause anxiety?

In the United States, initial reports of radon-related deaths caused anxiety. Fairly quickly, the Environmental Protection Agency lowered 1986 estimates of radon-related deaths and the number of contaminated homes.

Are radon concerns overblown?

Radon-induced lung cancer deaths may be overestimated due to failure to account for confounding by exposure to diesel engine exhaust in BEIR VI miner studies.

Can wearing a mask protect you from radon?

But, unfortunately, just like it happens with ultraviolet radiation, there is no apron or mask that will protect you against inhaling radon.