January is Radon Awareness Action Month, a time to increase public awareness of the dangers of radon and to encourage people to take steps to protect themselves and their families from this invisible, odorless gas.
Radon Awareness; What is Radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that is produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. It is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers in the United States and is responsible for approximately 21,000 deaths each year.
Radon can enter homes and other buildings through cracks in the foundation, openings around pipes, and other openings in the structure. It can accumulate to high levels in homes and buildings that are poorly ventilated or that have a high concentration of radon in the air outside.
Radon Action; Mitigation
There are several steps that people can take to reduce their risk of exposure to radon:
Test Your Home for Radon
Radon testing kits are widely available and relatively inexpensive. If the test results show that radon levels in your home are above the EPA’s recommended action level of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L), you should take steps to reduce the levels. The EPA and WHO also suggest mitigating your home if 2 pCi/L or more.
Fix Your Home
If your home has dangerous levels of radon, there are several ways to reduce the levels. Basic installations can be done with an interior (fan in the attic) or exterior (fan on side of house outside) system. At times, this could include sealing cracks in the foundation and increasing ventilation. Other mitigation techniques help mitigate homes or buildings with crawl spaces, etc..
Educate Yourself and your Family
The more you know about radon, the better equipped you will be to protect yourself and your family. Be sure to educate your children about the dangers of radon and how to reduce their risk of exposure. See the previous weeks Blog, ‘The Hazards of Radon’
Spread the Word
Take the time to educate your friends, family, and community about the dangers of radon. Specifically share during Radon Awareness Action Month and throughout the year. Encourage them to test their homes and take steps to reduce their risk of exposure.
Radon Awareness Action Month is an important time to increase public awareness of the dangers of radon. Sharing radon information also encourages people to take steps to protect themselves and their families from this invisible, odorless gas. You can help protect yourself and others from this harmful gas. Test your home for radon, fix any issues, educate yourself and your family, and spread the word about the dangers of radon.
Test Your Home Today
Order a Test kit and make sure your family is safe from radon.
