One of my good friends is in the process of buying a new home. He’s really excited about the upcoming purchase, but a few days ago he asked me what I thought about getting the home tested for radon. We both decided to do some research and see if testing was necessary. We found out it certainly was! In fact, after what we discovered, I even decided to test my own home for radon.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Surgeon General, radon causes thousands of lung cancer deaths in the U.S. each year. This makes it the second leading cause of lung cancer, after tobacco smoking! If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.
What is radon and where is it found?
Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas. It comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water, getting into the air you breathe. Radon can be found all over the U.S. It can get into any type of building such as homes, offices, and schools. You are likely to get your greatest exposure at home, where people typically spend most of their time.
Testing for radon.
The scariest thing about radon is that you can’t see it, smell it or taste it. Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. The EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon. Testing is easy, inexpensive and only takes a few minutes. Click here to learn more about radon and testing for it.
Fixing a radon problem.
If you do discover you have a radon problem, there are solutions known as radon reduction systems. Some of these systems have been shown to reduce radon levels in your home by up to 99%. Studies have shown that nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the U.S. have unsafe levels of radon!
After my friend’s experience in home buying and radon research, I recommend having your home tested, if you have not already done so. It’s a risk to assume your home is safe without testing.
Have you ever tested your home with an at-home testing kit? Did you find it easy to administer? If you have had any experience with radon, please share in the comments section below!
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