Author Archives: Caress Fonte

The Health Concerns of Radon

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Have you ever wondered why there are people who get lung cancer even if they are nonsmokers? Aside from second-hand smoking, other factors can lead to this disease. The worst thing about it is you cannot see, touch, or even smell it. This invisible enemy that can damage your lungs and affect your healthy body is radon, one of the radioactive gases. The World Health Organization considered radon as the second leading cause of lung cancer; that’s why people need to be careful about it. In this article, learn more about the health concerns of radon and what preventive measures you can do at home to avoid this cancer-causing gas.

What Radon Can Do to Your Body

Some people lack understanding about the adverse effects of radon. They don’t know how dangerous this radioactive gas is. Know that radon is everywhere, it can be at your home, school, or even in the workplace. Some areas might have high radon levels, while others might have small traces of it. That’s why radon testing is necessary because it helps you identify the radon levels in the places you have tested for this gas. Suppose there are high radon levels; what can it do to your body?

According to a 2019 study, Health Effects of Radon Exposure, it is scientifically proven that radon exposure can cause lung cancer. That’s why mass media and related experts need to communicate accurate information to the general public. This way, people will have access to the necessary information they need to combat the cancer-causing gas.

Even the United States Environmental Protection Agency states that although radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, it is the number one cause among nonsmokers. It has been responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year, and almost 3,000 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked in their lives. To advise the general public on the health concerns of radonm health experts have issued a national health advisory on this radioactive gas.

Why Radon is More Dangerous to Smokers

Smokers have a high risk of lung cancer and make the risk higher when exposed to high radon levels. According to the EPA, this is because of the synergistic effects of radon and smoking. For instance, about 62 people in a 1,000 will die of lung cancer, compared to 7.3 people in 1,000 for never smokers. But a person who never smoked who is exposed to 1.3 pCi/L has a 2 in 1,000 chance of lung cancer. On the other hand, a smoker has a 20 in 1,000 chance of dying from lung cancer.

Radon Reduction Techniques

Suppose you have conducted radon testing and you found out that there are high radon levels in your home; here are some radon reduction techniques to consider:


1. Crack sealing – When you seal the cracks, you limit the flow of radon into your home, which makes other radon reduction techniques more effective and cost-efficient.

2. House or room pressurization – This method requires a fan to blow air into the basement or living area. Doing so creates enough pressure at the lowest level indoors.

3. HRV – A heat recovery ventilator, also known as the air-to-air heat exchanger, can increase ventilation, reducing the radon levels in your home.

4. Natural ventilation – You may open your windows, doors, and vents on the lower floors to increase the ventilation in your home.

Radon is a harmful radioactive gas that takes the lives of many people, both smokers, and nonsmokers. If you want to lower your risks of lung cancer and avoid the other health concerns of radon, you need to act immediately and ensure that your home is free from this cancer-causing gas. You may follow the radon reduction techniques mentioned here or hire a professional radon contractor to help you.

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4 Construction Techniques to Build A Radon-Resistant Home

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When building a house, homeowners consider several things. Among these is how huge the building would be, how many bedrooms the structure can accommodate, where to place the kitchen area, and many more. Sometimes, environmental concerns are not prioritized. Homeowners should pay more attention to creating a safe home and environment rather than the structure’s aesthetics. To ensure that the air you will breathe at home is safe, building a radon-resistant home is essential.

How Radon Is Produced

For those who have never heard of what radon is, know that it is a kind of radioactive gas that comes from the soil. This gas is produced through the uranium breakdown that is present in most rocks and soil. As radon breaks down, it emits atomic particles that are incorporated in the air people breathe, posing risks to human health. Once a person is exposed to radon, it can increase the risk of respiratory diseases such as lung cancer.

The radon indoors is more harmful than the radioactive gas that you can find outside the home. It is because this chemical is diluted in the open air, but it could stay indoors. Radon can build up to dangerous levels at home, mainly if this gas is not eradicated. If a person inhales radon, its particles’ energy can change the DNA cell, increasing the risks of lung cancer.

How Radon Enters Your Home

The radioactive gas enters the house through the little openings and cracks in the foundation. It is where creating a radon-resistant home takes a vital role. If the house structure blocks this chemical, you can ensure that you and your loved ones are safe from inhaling this harmful chemical. If the house is not radon-resistant, then there’s a higher chance of having this toxic chemical inside the building.

The air pressure between the inside of a building and the soil surrounding it also plays a significant role in radon entry. For instance, radon will remain outside if the house’s air pressure is greater than the ground beneath it. If the air pressure of the building is lower than its surrounding soil, the radon gas will enter the home. It is essential to keep the pressure inside the house higher than the soil because if not, the building will act like a vacuum that sucks all the radon.

Things to Consider Before Building A Radon-Resistant Home

architect designing a house

Before you talk to your builder and design a radon-resistant home, it is crucial to find the best location. Remember, radon comes from the soil; that’s why an area’s geology is a significant factor when building a house. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collaborated with state and federal geologists to design maps that can predict every region’s potential radon levels. 

The areas in the maps are labeled from Zone 1 to Zone 3. Zone 1 refers to places where the radon is potentially high. Meanwhile, Zone 3 consists of areas where radioactive gas is potentially low. It doesn’t mean that you cannot build houses in Zone 1 sites. If you are planning to construct a building there, you can include a radon control system. It is more affordable to add it to the total costs while building it rather than install the system after the house is built.

Here’s a map that can help you identify if your new house will be built in any of the three zones.

Radon-Resistant Home: Construction Tips and Techniques

You don’t need to be an expert in house building to create a radon-resistant home. Know that creating a radon-resistant house sometimes has simple techniques that are familiar to builders. Following the simple methods are sufficient enough to deter radon from entering the building. Here are some strategies to consider:

Install a layer of clean gravel or place it beneath the flooring system.

Place a four-inch layer of clean and coarse gravel below the foundation (slab). This layer allows radon and other soil gases to move freely underneath the house, creating an airflow layer or gas-permeable layer. If the gravel is too expensive or unnecessary in your area, you may consider perforated pipe and collection mat as alternatives.

Place polyethylene sheeting on top of the gravel layer.

Another technique to consider is installing a heavy-duty plastic sheeting or a vapor retarder on top of the gravel. Doing so prevents the radioactive gas from entering your home. Aside from that, it also keeps the concrete from clogging the gravel layer, especially when the slab is poured.

Install a gas-tight venting pipe starting from the gravel layer through the building to the roof.

You may install a three-inch or four-inch reliable PVC Schedule 40 pipe vertically from the gravel layer through the house’s conditioned space and roof. Doing so will help in safely venting the radon and other soil gases outside the home.

Ensure that the foundation is thoroughly sealed and caulked.

Make sure that all the cracks and little openings in the concrete foundation floor and walls are sealed and caulked. If so, the harmful soil gases will be prevented from entering your home.

Passive Radon System vs Active Radon System

These techniques make up a passive radon system. Sometimes, these construction techniques are enough to replace the vacuum effect that most houses experience. The passive radon system blocks the radon from entering by creating a pressure barrier. However, there could be instances when the passive radon system is not enough to prevent radon entry. If this is the case, an active radon system is recommended. 

An active radon system is done by installing a fan that pulls the radon gas from the soil into the vent pipe. The radioactive gas is then exhausted outside the house. You can talk to your builder about which of the active to passive radon systems would work best for your home. As radon experts, they can help you identify which construction techniques can be applied in building the house, keeping you and your family safe from the radioactive gas.

As someone who plans to build a house, you must consider several factors to ensure that the building is safe from harmful gases like radon. You may talk to your builder and design a home using radon-resistant construction techniques. If the passive radon system is not enough, you may consider the active radon system. No matter what you use, what matters most is the safety of your family. Therefore, make sure that you will have a radon-resistant home.