According to the Environmental Protection Agency, most people spend about 90% of their time indoors. However, they may be breathing contaminated air that is actually two to five times more polluted than the air outdoors. In other words, our homes may actually be killing us slowly and threatening the lives of our families.

There are precautions you can take to keep the air inside your home cleaner and fresher. The first of which is to keep toxins away from your home such as cigarette and cigar smoke, excessive moisture and unhealthy chemicals. The second involves ventilating the air inside your home regularly to clean and release some of the pollutants that would otherwise hang around. This can be done easily by opening your windows, doors, and running exhaust fans.

The Three Most Deadly Indoor Pollutants Affecting the Air Quality in Your Home

Believe it or not, there are actually three extremely deadly but common pollutants that can be found indoors. They are carbon monoxide and radon gas, and secondhand tobacco smoke.

1. Carbon Monoxide – More than 400 Americans die every year due to a carbon monoxide problem inside their home, with thousands hospitalized and severely sick.
2. Secondhand Tobacco Smoke – 7,500 to 15,000 children are hospitalized due to a respiratory tract infection related to secondhand smoke exposure. Even worse, many older adults with cardiovascular issues or lung problems are at a much higher risk for sever health problems when exposed to secondhand smoke.
3. Radon Gas – This odorless, tasteless and colorless gas can seep into the home from underneath the foundation. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer, a type of cancer that has the highest mortality rates. More than 20,000 lung cancer deaths every year can be traced back to long-term radon exposure.

How Do You Combat These Pollutants and Keep the Air Quality in Your Home Clean?

Image by SuperFantastic (Flickr)

Smoking is actually pretty easy to combat, when compared to the others. That’s not to say it’s easy to kick the habit, however. The most ideal preventative strategy would be to eliminate smoking altogether, which means if you or a family member smokes encourage them to stop. If that’s not an option, then always refrain from smoking inside the home. Furthermore, never smoke near windows or doors that lead into your home. Ensure that you are far enough away from a home before lighting a cigarette or cigar.

Carbon monoxide can’t always be prevented, but it can be monitored by installing a detection system. Similar to a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide monitor (detector) will scan the indoor air and sound an alarm if it identifies an issue. A lot of older appliances like hot water heaters, furnaces and more can release this deadly gas if they are not ventilated properly.

Radon is the worst on this list, as most people have no clue it exists inside their home. In fact, because it’s odorless, colorless and tasteless the only way to discover its presence is to test specifically for it. We recommend testing at least twice a year, once in the summer and again in the winter. You can also purchase long-term radon detectors similar to carbon monoxide detectors.

Additional Cleaning Tips to Keep the Air Quality in Your Home Fresh

Of course, there are plenty of other ways you can combat these toxins in your home. Here, is a short list of some rather unconventional cleaning strategies.

• 

  Image by Sean A O’Hara

  Place greenery around your home or install a living wall. Many plants actually help filter and clean toxins out of the air. It’s always a good idea to place a few around your home to help eliminate or reduce air pollutants. Even if you don’t have a green thumb, there are plenty of plants you can buy that require little to no maintanence.

• Use low-VOC paints and decorative materials. Fresh paint, even after it has dried can release trace amounts of toxins and gases for months after they have been used. These gases are referred to as VOCs or volatile organic compounds. They can include traces of toxic chemicals like formaldehyde or acetaldehyde. Instead use low-VOC paints, varnishes, waxes and more to decorate your home. Always open windows when you’re painting and turn on all exhaust fans in your home. Allow your air to ventilate regularly when you’ve recently done a paint job.

• Check your roof, foundation, basement, crawlspace and walls for leaks or cracks. Even just a small amount of moisture leaking into an area can cause an issue over time. If you find anything, be sure to fill or fix the cracks before the building materials used become damp. If the moisture is not kept in check, it can lead to high humidity, mold and mildew. All of these issues have been attributed to coughing, asthma, wheezing and other respiratory problems.

• Clean air conditioning units and dehumidifiers regularly. They can produce a standing water supply responsible for the growth of dust mites, mold and mildew. In addition, using these ventilation systems will help eliminate moisture and dirty air inside the home.

• Keep pets away from sleeping areas and furniture such as beds, couches and others. There is absolutely no such thing as a hypoallergenic pet, so if you’re prone to allergies stay away from animals – or at least don’t keep them in your home. Animal saliva, urine, feces and dead skin cells can produce deadly toxins and allergens. Cat allergens can actually stay in a location for a period of 20 weeks or more, even if the animal has been removed from the environment. Always clean animals after they have spent time outdoors, because they can track in toxins from outside as well.

• Solvents and cleaning chemicals used in dry cleaning can actually be extremely toxic. Always allow dry cleaned items to air out before bringing them into your home. You can easily ventilate the toxins by allowing them to hang on a clothesline outdoors before bringing them inside.

Image by Gilles San Martin

• Remove carpet completely and replace it with vinyl, tile or wood. Carpet and cloth floors actually trap pollutants and harmful particles like dirt, fungi, dust mites and more. Vacuuming carpets can alleviate this issue somewhat, but it can actually send the pollutants airborne too. If you cannot remove carpets, or do not want to resort to a HEPA or high efficiency particle air vacuum cleaner and filter to improve air quality. Also shampoo your carpet regularly, but ventilate afterwards to prevent the buildup of excess moisture and humidity.

• Change your air filters on time. Most people actually leave their air filters in for longer than they should. This promotes a buildup of toxins and pollutants in the air because it is no longer being cleaned properly during ventilation. Depending on the type of air filter used, it is recommended that you change your filter every one to three months. If the cost becomes an issue you can always purchase reusable filters that can be cleaned before being reinstalled. If you do decide to use a cleanable filter, always clean it outdoors and wear a respiratory mask while doing so.

This list could go on forever as there are plenty of things you can do to keep the air quality in your home healthy and fresh. What are some things you do to help keep your home clean and healthy for your family? Is there anything listed here that you were never aware of before?

BBC News is reporting about radon detectors being installed at one of Scotland’s most popular tourist attractions, the 13th century Urquhart Castle. Essentially, the sensors will be used to test the site for high levels of radon gas. It turns out that areas nearby including the Glen Urquhart High School in Drumnadrochit were found to be plagued by a remarkably high presence of radon – seven times the recommended amount to be exact.

Why Are Radon Detectors Being Installed?

Photo by Kieran Lamb

Most of the castle is actually outdoors so elevated levels aren’t expected throughout the entire property, as radon poses the biggest threat in confined spaces. Just the underground visitor centre is going to be monitored for a period of three months. Sensors, otherwise known as radon detectors, will be installed primarily as a precaution because of the test results from affected areas nearby.

Historic Scotland, who know owns the castle property, believes that the site itself is at a very low risk for radon. Since the fortress sees more than 300,000 visitors and tourists per year that’s certainly welcome news. The detectors should allow concerned parties to monitor levels on the site nonetheless.

Historic Scotland also spoke about the issue, stating that they are taking the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of guests and employees spending time at the site.

“According to the British Geological Survey radon risk map, Urquhart Castle and visitor centre are not in a high risk area for radon gas. As such, a test has not been undertaken before. However, in response to recent reported cases in the area, we have arranged for a test to be undertaken. The health and safety of our staff and visitors is of paramount importance and something we aim to preserve at all times.”

Radon Detectors Being Installed Urquhart Castle

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, which in itself has an exceptionally high mortality rate. That is because lung cancer symptoms don’t begin to appear until after patients have been ill for quite some time. In fact, in most cases by the time symptoms are recognized the disease has reached an incurable state.

Even worse, there are no short term symptoms of radon poisoning. Just being around high levels increases the risk of cancer – that risks increases even more so in those who have been exposed to tobacco smoke, or smoke themselves.

It’s also a common misconception that radon levels in nearby areas are an indication of what local test results may show. While there are some patterns based on geographic location, high levels of radon can pretty much be found anywhere. All residence and business owners should test their properties at least twice a year.

As for Urquhart Castle, the sensors will reveal in a few months time whether or not there are problems on the site.

Via: BBC News

As this is a site dedicated to information about Radon, naturally it’s the topic we discuss most. However, radon is not the only silent killer that could be lurking in your home. There are plenty of other dangers that can cause issues with your health, including carbon monoxide, natural gas leaks, fungi, mold and bacteria.

Today, we’re going to take a quick peek at some of the other silent killers like radon.

Silent Killers Like Radon

Carbon Monoxide – This deadly gas is responsible for claiming the lives of more than 4,000 Americans every year. It is an invisible and odorless gas that is produced when appliances like your fireplace, water heater or furnace burn improperly. It can quickly fill a home, before any residents notice a problem. Symptoms associated with exposure include headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, unconsciousness and even death.

The only way to detect the presence of CO is to test the air inside a home for it, similar to radon. As such, several states have passed legislation that requires carbon monoxide detectors to be used in new homes.

Gas Leaks – Gas can leak into the home through one of several different appliances such as a stove or heater. As a result, this can lead to severe asphyxiation. If enough gas builds up inside a residence it can cause a dangerous explosion – most natural gas is highly flammable.

Generally, commercial gases used for fuel often give off a strong odor or smell. In the event that you do smell gas, leave the home immediately and contact the authorities. If you cannot leave for some reason, open any and all windows or doors to the outside and refrain from using anything electrical – even lights.

Image by Angela Schmeidel Randall

Fungi or Mold – Fungi and mold can build up inside a home to create what is called the Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). Mold and mildew can grow in the foundations, walls, and under carpets. All it takes is for various building materials to become wet, and stay damp for an extended period of time without being properly cleaned.

A heavily infested home can cause symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation as well as headaches and fatigue. The Centers for Disease Control reports that SBS can cause serious health issues for the following groups of people.

• Infants and children
• The elderly
• People with asthma, allergies, or respiratory conditions
• People with weakened immune systems

Some signs that you may have a mold or mildew problem in your home are stained ceilings, a lingering musty smell, colored spots on the wall, leaky pipes and more.

Get Help Immediately

If you suspect one of these killers may be lurking in your home seek help immediately. There are several different places you can go to find more information including the Centers for Disease Control and the Environmental Protection Agency.

As awareness about the dangers associated with radon grow so will innovation in the construction industry to protect against it – and that’s a good thing. Radon resistant construction is used when new homes and buildings are built, however it’s still possible for radon to seep into any home – even those specifically designed to keep it out.

On June 17th, 2014 at the National Research Council of Canada (NRCC) in Ottawa an event was held to celebrate the launch of Radon Guard. Radon Guard is a structural under-slab ventilation system that creates a capillary break between the ground and air barrier equipment. In layman’s terms, that means it helps ventilate gas that builds up underneath a home after seeping through the soil. In that respect, it lowers the concentration of radon in the home – helping to maintain clean air inside.

The Canadian Construction Materials Centre (CCMC) has certified Radon Guard as National Building Code 2010 compliant. Since radon resistant features are a code requirement for new construction including homes, schools and even commercial buildings, Radon Guard will certainly be useful.

Alan Whitehead, President and CEO of Radon Environmental Management believes that Radon Guard will save lives.

“Radon Guard will become the gold standard for sub-slab ventilation systems in new construction and will save thousands of lives.”

Randi Fox, the principal of Fox Architecture and founder of Radon Guard, believes much the same thing and that’s exactly why he created the system.

“Radon Guard provides many advantages over the use of the code prescriptive gravel, which can be regionally hard to find, expensive to transport and labour intensive to install. It is also a potential source of radon itself. Radon Guard will soon be readily available at most building suppliers, is competitively priced, and is fast clean and easy to install. It is a cost effective and efficient insulated under-slab ventilation system.”

Now that the technology has been certified, it would be nice to see it used elsewhere in the world such as here in the United States. Still, it’s a great leap in innovation in terms of radon resistant construction.

After all, Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in many countries including the US and Canada. Health Canada has estimated that more than 3,200 Canadians die each year due to radon-induced lung cancer. This is because lung cancer has a remarkably high mortality rate, as it’s often diagnosed in its later stages. Symptoms of lung cancer don’t begin to show until the late stages where patients have neared an incurable state. Worse yet, those who smoke or have been exposed to tobacco smoke have an increased risk of contracting lung cancer if they are also exposed to elevated levels of radon.

Radon resistant construction and related technology is extremely important. It’s good to see new players in the market.

Via: Digital Journal

Florida is actually one of the few states in the country that requires schools and child care centers to test for radon. In addition, 24-hour care facilities such as nursing homes, prisons and even foster homes must also be tested for the deadly gas.

Building purchase contracts and rental agreements must mention that elevated radon levels have been found in the state of Florida – hopefully making more homeowners and renters aware of the problem.

Radon is a Problem in Florida

Believe it or not, several counties in the state are more susceptible to radon primarily due to the abundance of rocky or clay-like soils that are rich in uranium. The element actually decays, producing a radioactive gas known as radon – which is odorless, colorless and tasteless. The gas can quietly seep into the cracks of a homes foundation, windows or walls and collect in great amounts. It can also enter a home through unfiltered well water – although in much lesser quantities usually. That being said, no matter how it enters the home, if left untreated it can build up significantly creating a toxic environment. In many cases, homeowners have no idea they are basting in a toxic home putting their entire family in danger.

Homeowner Larry Condra had a mitigation installed in his home after the levels were found to be about 7 pCi/L, well over the recommended action limit of 4.0pCi/L as set by the US EPA. After the system was installed, levels in his home reduced to 0.4 pCi/L.

“It cost me around $1,900, but it’s well worth it rather than sitting around wondering whether there’s some kind of radioactive isotope going down into my lungs that’s going to give me lung cancer somewhere down the road.”

Condra tested his home after researching about a family’s member’s thyroid cancer and finding the relation between high levels of radon and an increased risk of cancer. Although, the most common type of cancer associated with radon is lung cancer, but that’s not to say those who are exposed can’t be affected by other types.

A friend of Condra’s also had her home tested, which happened to measure in excess of 30 pCi/L.

“She said that’s really weird because you spend your whole life trying to eat right, exercise, don’t do anything unhealthy and you’re sitting in a house that’s toxic, literally.”

Florida Counties with a High Risk for Radon

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, there are nine counties in the state of Florida that exhibit a high risk for radon, or more specifically elevated indoor levels of the deadly gas. The average screening for the areas is about 2 pCi/L to 4 pCi/L, which is relatively high and indicates a potential abundance of radon.

The affected counties include Columbia, Union, Alachua, Marion, Citrus, Leon, Hillsborough, Polk and Dade.

The problem can be made worse with modern construction methods, thanks to a shift toward more energy efficient buildings. In order to be more efficient, the affected buildings must be air-tight for several reasons, but unfortunately this can trap radon gas inside the home creating a very dangerous and toxic environment for residents.

Every one if five Florida homes has elevated radon levels, and the residents probably have no clue, as per the US EPA’s claims. More than 21,000 lung cancer related deaths can be traced back to exposure to elevated radon levels. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer, right behind smoking.

If you believe there may be a problem, the only way to find out the concentration of radon in your home is to test specifically for it. We recommend testing a home at least twice a year: once in the summer and another time in the winter. If one of those tests return elevated levels, then a long-term test is also recommended.

If levels are found to exceed 4 pCi/L then a mitigation system is necessary to continue living in the home.

Via: The Gainesville Sun

Image by Fil.Al

Granite countertops can actually release trace elements of the deadly and radioactive gas radon. Since radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, which has an extremely high mortality rate, that’s more than a little disconcerting.

Of course, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has deemed most granite safe. Despite the fact that granite based countertops do release radon, it’s apparently very little – not enough to make a significant difference. That being said, how much radon is released depends on the type of rock used. The EPA does recommend that homeowners get their countertops tested if they feel there may be an issue.

With all this information out in the open, just how dangerous are granite countertops? Is there an immediate threat or not?

Radon and Granite Countertops: Dangerous or Not?

All natural materials such as stone, minerals and soil contain trace amounts of radioactive elements. These radioactive elements are called NORMs for short, or Naturally Occurring Radioactive Minerals. This means that at any given time, there are lots of things around us releasing small amounts of radioactive elements.

If we took that definition and listed every item in existence that releases radioactive material it would be seemingly endless. It includes non-plastic dishware, natural gas, phospate fertilizers and vegetables that come into contact with them, silica based glass like mirrors or windows, and even granite.

That being said, the amount of radioactive material being released is not enough to cause serious harm. It will quickly dilute in a large quantity of healthy air, even inside a residence. If you were to take a geiger counter – a device used to measure radioactive objects – it would certainly show that these materials are irradiated. However, that’s no cause for alarm.

As the US EPA states:

“In a small number of homes, the building materials (e.g., granite and certain concrete products) can give off radon, although building materials rarely cause radon problems by themselves. In the United States, radon gas in soils is the principal source of elevated radon levels in homes.”

Long story short, granite countertops are not dangerous and do not pose an immediate threat to homeowners.

Radon and Countertops: How Do You Test?

To test the concentration of radon in granite countertops – and to truly find out if yours are a threat to your health or not – you can purchase activated charcoal testing kits. Unlike testing for radon the normal way, you cannot use a standard testing kit to measure your countertops – simply placing a standard test near a granite countertop is not going to provide accurate results. You cannot use a geiger counter to properly measure the radioactive radon being released from your counter either. You absolutely must purchase a testing kit made specifically for testing radon releasing surfaces.

In addition, the kits will come with two sample containers. One must be placed on or directly near the counter while the other must be placed at least twenty feet away. The collected air samples are compared, and the results of that comparison will reveal whether or not the counters are dangerous.

The likelihood of a granite countertop contributing to a significant abundance of radon in a residence is slim. Again, in most cases there is no immediate threat and the radioactive material that is being released is not harmful.

Image by CBC News

Although the risk of radon can be more prominent in certain areas of the world, its presence is not directly contingent on location. Homeowners may see elevated levels in their own residence, even if neighbors do not – and vice versa. That being said, there are places like Kentucky in the US and New Brunswick or Manitoba in Canada that see the highest instances of elevated radon.

A doctor in Halifax wants the province to purchase software that would shed some light on patient symptoms and environmental risk factors. The software is called Geomatic Information Systems, and it will essentially allow users to combine and analyze relevant data about potential risks in their area. Doctors and patients would be able to correctly identify patterns in the environment such as the presence of elevated radon in the environment.

Geographic Information Software Can Detect Common Issues Like Radon in the Environment

The software is remarkably easy to use and requires merely an area code. It will then display a web-based map with known dangers in the area. Using this information, patients and doctors can see what may or may not be the cause of health issues.

Corey Nelson, accountant manager for ESRI Canada – a company that specializes in geographic information system solutions – says that the software is extremely effective. Nelson and Dr Ajantha Jayabarathan were able to sort through 650 different patient records and identify 10 cases where the patient was experiencing respiratory problems because they were living in an area with a high radon risk. As you may already know from this site, exposure to radon significantly increases the risk of lung cancer and can cause many respiratory problems – if exposed to it for an extended period of time.

Jayabarathan further points out that the software allows her to assess more than just a patient’s symptoms. Often, health issues can be directly influenced by our environment or living conditions.

“With a tool like this I could probably also say ‘Did you know that you happen to live in a place that is high in radon? It might be to your value to have your air tested’”.

Unfortunately, Deputy Health Minister Peter Vaughan says that the software will not be made available to doctors in Nova Scotia anytime soon. It’s pretty expensive, with a price tag of about $10,000 per year, per user.

“That’s a pretty significant cost when you add up the 2,500 physicians in the province and it’s not something that we would again prioritize at this stage.”

That claim may seem a bit silly when you consider the fact that radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer in many places around the world, Canada included.

The Software Could Be a Benefit Anywhere

Even though this news is coming out of Canada, the software would be beneficial anywhere. It would allow health care providers to identify common environmental problems, or more importantly an elevated presence of radon.

Perhaps we should consider using the software – expensive or not – here in the US?

VIa: CBC News

Image by iLoveMountains.org

Kentucky state residents may be surprised to know that the state has the highest rate of lung cancer and related deaths in the entire country. In fact, the death rate of lung cancer in the state is 56% higher than the national average. Some counties have death rates that are more than double the average.

Every year more than 3,500 Kentucky residents lose their lives to lung cancer.

For the most part, this can be attributed to the fact that the smoking rate of adults in the state is about 28%. When all is said and done, tobacco smoke isn’t the only cause of such frequent occurrences of lung cancer in the state. At the very least, the issue is augmented by other carcinogens.

However, lung cancer is also prominent in non-smokers because of those same carcinogens. In addition to high rates of arsenic and chromium in the air – as shown in research conducted by Tucker – central Kentucky also has the highest potential for radon gas in the entire country. This information is readily available at the US EPA website, and has been known for quite some time.

Some of the carcinogens may be from manufacturing plants and factories in the area, but radon is a naturally occurring gas that seeps up into homes, residences and businesses from the soil. Radon is odorless, colorless and tasteless. The only way to know whether or not it exists in abundance is to test specifically for it.

If radon levels in a residence exceed 4.0 pCi/L – the limit as recommended by the US EPA – then action should be taken immediately to reduce them. With the state seeing the highest rate of lung cancer in the country, action is certainly necessary.

Smoking is Not the Only Problem

Smoking is definitely a big issue, as it’s responsible for nearly eighty to ninety percent of lung cancer cases. However, many of those affected have either never smoked, or have abstained from the habit for quite some time. That is because they’re problem was likely caused by other carcinogens, like radon, asbestos and the like.

Even worse, those who have smoked – or have been exposed to secondhand smoke – are more at risk for cancer after coming into contact with radon. There’s little evidence to prove the same pattern with other carcinogens, but there may be an increase in risk if exposed to them as well.

The real issue involves time. The longer you are exposed to these carcinogens the more likely you’ll contract cancer. Time also plays a direct role in why lung cancer deaths are so high. Most lung cancer is not diagnosed until later stages of the disease, because that’s when a lot of the symptoms begin to show. Unfortunately, that also happens to be at a time when the survival rate is low.

You’re more likely to survive if the cancer is discovered early, just like you’re more likely to be healthy if you discover the existence of these carcinogens early – and then take action.

Test for the Presence of Carcinogens and Then Take Action if Necessary

It is recommended that you perform at least two air sample tests in your home every year. This is because the concentration of radon in a residence or building can fluctuate. The best times to test are during winter and summer. If one of the short term tests do indicate elevated radon levels, you might want to perform a long term test too, which involves collecting an indoor air sample for longer than 90 days. Long term tests will give a more accurate reading of the average radon levels in a residence.

If levels are found to be higher than the recommended limit, you need to take action immediately. In that case, you should schedule a consultation with a certified radon mitigation contractor. They will help you install a mitigation system that is designed to filter and clean the air in your home, or more specifically remove radon.

It should be noted however, that even after a mitigation system has been installed regular tests are still important.

It’s Time to Quit Smoking

While the aforementioned carcinogens are dangerous and require attention, the best way to reduce your risk of developing cancer is still to quit smoking. If you live in the state of Kentucky – or anywhere for that matter – and smoke regularly, then you should quit as soon as possible.

If you find it difficult to break your smoking habit, there are places where you can turn for help. You can always call the American Lung Association (ALA) Lung Help Line at (800) 586-4872 or visit the ALA website.

Via: The Courier Journal

We’re barreling down on Father’s Day which means last minute shoppers are scrambling to find a decent gift. When we think of gifts however, most of us generally think of gift cards, tools and similar items – avoiding rather unconventional ideas. If you really want to tell Dad how much you love him and care for him, what better gift is there than one that can protect his health?

What are we talking about exactly? We’re talking about three different, but very unique gifts that would ensure Dad – and Mom – are living in a healthy environment. We’re talking about carbon monoxide detectors, radon detectors and radon testing kits.

Wait, What?

Why would anyone want to get Dad a boring gift such as carbon monoxide or radon detectors? Even worse, why would you get your Dad a radon testing kit – that will eventually require him to do a bit of work? For starters, it’s the thought that counts.

Expanding on that point, by giving Dad one of these items as a gift you’re telling him that you care about his health. You’re showing your father that you are genuinely concerned with the air quality in his home, and that you want to make sure he stays around for quite some time longer.

We don’t know about you, but we think that would mean the world to most Dads. Just knowing the fact that your children love you enough to want to ensure your safety is a gift of its own accord.

What Are They and What Do They Do?

If you frequent this site, then you already know radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US. According to the CDC, deaths caused by carbon monoxide poisoning aren’t far behind. From 1999-2010 there were a total of 5,149 deaths, which is an average of about 430 deaths per year. Long story short, both radon and carbon monoxide are serious health concerns.

It is recommended that all homeowners conduct a short-term radon test in their residence at least twice a year. If levels are found to exceed the recommended limit of 4.0 pCi/L then a long term test is necessary, after which the installation of a mitigation system is necessary if levels are indeed high. Before you can take action however, you need to know what the radon levels are in your home.

A radon detector conducts a series of short and long term tests to discover potential hazards. The same holds true for a carbon monoxide detector. Both types of devices will sound an alarm to alert the homeowner if dangerous levels are discovered. They are very similar to smoke detectors, except they obviously check dangerous gas levels instead.

Radon is odorless, colorless and tasteless which means it’s undetectable to humans. In fact, the only way to know you have a problem is to specifically test for one. That’s exactly why testing kits, radon detectors or carbon monoxide detectors would make great gifts.

They Make Great Gifts Period

Sure, Father’s Day will soon be over but the dangers of radon and carbon monoxide will not dissipate. If you already have a gift for Dad, or have something else in mind then consider these items as a potential gift in the future. There are many more holidays and families that could benefit from these devices.

More and more news reports are surfacing about elevated radon levels being detected in homes. Even with the news that Health Canada tests have discovered more than 1,400 homes with radon levels above the recommended action level, there’s no reason to panic, because there’s plenty of time to alleviate the problem.

In the short term, radon poisoning has no significant effects and mitigation is not as costly as you’d expect. That being said, if elevated radon levels are found in your home you should take action to reduce them as quickly as possible.

Why Not Panic, is Elevated Radon Exposure Serious or Not?

Image by Tom Courbat

Our goal – and the goal of radon experts – is not to scare the general public, but instead to make them more aware about the dangers of the odorless, tasteless and colorless gas. It isn’t much of a problem outdoors, out in the open, but when it’s confined and collects inside a building it can cause some pretty serious health issues over an extended period of time. Furthermore, when combined with exposure to tobacco smoke, it increases the risk of lung cancer exponentially.

Dr. Daniel Cluff, from the University of Exeter says that there’s no reason to be alarmed by the influx of recent reports.

Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking and before second-hand smoke. That should provide a little perspective to some, especially when you consider how serious second-hand tobacco smoke exposure can be. Just think radon exposure is much more prominent than that.

The real dangers come from years and years of prolonged exposure. That’s not to say there’s no short term harm, but at the very least there are no visible symptoms of it. That is exactly why there’s no reason to panic about high radon levels in your area, or if they are discovered in your home.

Test Before You Worry

It is recommended that you test your home for radon at least twice a year, once in the summer and a second time in the winter. This is because the levels can fluctuate greatly, thanks to a lot of different factors like the current season, amount of air flow in the home, and even soil makeup beneath your foundation. Some areas are more susceptible to radon however it can be found anywhere. Long story short, every homeowner should have their home tested regardless of location.

What if Radon is Found?

There will always be a small amount of radon in a home, but if levels are detected above the recommended action limit you’ll need to do something about it. What steps you will need to take will largely depend on the concentration of radon in the home.

In simple cases, homeowners can install a high-efficiency HEPA filter which screens and filters out dangerous particles in the air, like radon. In more extreme cases, homeowners may have to hire a contractor to install an advanced mitigation system which lowers the concentration of radon by removing it from affected areas of a home.

Be sure to read further about elevated radon levels, general dangers and how to mitigate a problem if one is discovered.

Via: The Sudbury Star